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Foot by foot the Sprite crept up to the Winner 
till the two boats were racing side by side. 

{The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell) Page .?5 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 

AND THEIR 
NEW ELECTRIC CELL 


By l/p.' WYMAN, Ph.D. 

Dean of Pennsylvania Military College 


Author of 

*‘The Golden Boys at the Fortress'* ‘'The Golden Boys 
in the Maine Woods/' “The Golden Boys with the 
Lumber Jacks/' “The Golden Boys on the 
River Drive." 



A. L. BURT COMPANY 
Publishers New Y ork 




THE 

GOLDE N BOYS SERIES 

A Series of Stories for Boys 12 to 16 Years of Age 

By L. P. WYMAN, Ph.D. 

Dean of the Pennsylvania Military College 

The Golden Boys and Their New Electric Cell 
The Golden Boys at the Fortress 
The Golden Boys in the Maine Woods 
The Golden Boys With the Ltmiber Jacks 
The Golden Boys on the River Drive 

Copyright, 1922 
By A. L. BURT COMPANY 

THE GOLDEN’ BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CEDL 


Made in “U. S. A.” 


'©CI.A659523 

APR -8 *22 



THE GOLDEN BOYS AND 
THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 


CHAPTER L 

THE NEW CELL. 

“Say^ Jack, do you have any idea that this thing 
is going to work 

I don't know, Bob, the theory is all right, but 
how it will work out in practice is a cat of another 
color; one thing is sure, though, and that is if it 
don't work we are out of the running in the race, 
for the new boat the Jenkins boys have just bought, 
will run circles round the Sprite." 

‘‘Well, we’ll soon know, for it’s about ready to 
test." 

This conversation took place one afternoon in the 
latter part of July in the basement of a house in 
Skowhegan, Maine. The room was fitted up as a 
combined workshop and laboratory, and a single 
glance would indicate that the two boys were by no 
means novices, for it contained many expensive 
and intricate pieces of machinery. 

3 


4 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Jack and Bob Gk)lden, 15 and 17 years old re- 
spectively, were sons of a rich manufacturer, who 
had made a large part of his fortune through his own 
inventions. Mr. Golden was an indulgent father 
and seeing that his inventive genius had descended 
to his sons, had fitted up a modern machine shop 
and labaratory for them and had supplied them lib- 
erally with money for experiments. He had by no 
means been disappointed in the results, for although 
they were but boys, they had already worked out 
several designs, which had been patented and had 
proved very successful. 

Mr. Golden was proud of his boys and with good 
reason. They were large for their age. Bob stand- 
ing 5 feet 10 inches in his stockings and Jack being 
but two inches shorter. They were fine, manly, look- 
ing fellows, and their clean-cut open faces told that 
they were generous to a fault and were boys to be 
trusted. 

The rest of the family consisted of Mrs. Golden, 
a small lovable woman, and a daughter Edna, 14 
years old, who was almost worshipped by her big 
brothers. Altogether they were as happy and jolly 
a family as one would find in a long journey. 

Through the center of the town ran the Kennebec 
river, and six miles to the north lay a beautiful sheet 
of water, five miles long by two wide, known as 
Hayden Lake. Here the boys kept their motor- 
boat, and as Mr. Golden had a large cottage on the 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 


5 


shore of the lake, the family spent the greater part 
of the summer there. The shores of the lake were 
dotted with cottages, and probably thirty or more 
motor boats were owned by the people who made 
the place their summer home. During each sum- 
mer many races were held, and proud indeed was 
the boy or man who secured the blue ribbon given 
to the winner of the final race held the first week in 
August. 

‘T say. Jack,” shouted Bob from the farther side 
of the room where he was closely watching a piece 
of electrical apparatus, ‘‘shut down the dynamo, 
will you ? I want to look at these cells and see how 
they are coming. We ought to have about enough 
in the first one.” 

“Right you are, son!” replied Jack as he turned 
a lever, and as the hum, which had filled the room 
ceased, he added, “There you are.” 

Bending over a glass tank, which was about 12 
inches square by 8 deep, and nearly filled with di- 
lute sulphuric acid, Bob disconnected two wires and 
reaching in his hand, lifted out a cylinder of metal 
about 6 inches long and inches thick. 

“Hurrah,” he shouted, “she’s almost full. Now 
in about a minute we’ll know whether or not we’ve 
wasted our time during the last week. Have you 
got those caps all ready and is the motor in trim ?” 

“Sure thing,” replied Jack. “But say. Bob, I’m 
mighty nervous; suppose it don’t work.” 


G 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Well,” said Bob slowly, “it won’t be the first 
time we’ve had to try again. If there is any trouble 
I feel sure it’s in the caps, for this manganese diox- 
ide was made by the electric current, and if the caps 
make it decompose into manganese and oxygen, the 
same amount of electricity will be produced as was 
used in making it. It’s the same principle as the 
regular storage battery, only we are going to do 
without the plates and sulphuric acid.” 

“That’s all right,” said impatient Jack, “but 
hurry up and hitch it on and let’s get the anxiety 
over with.” 

While talking, Bob had screwed on to each end of 
the cylinder a metal cap which had attached to its 
middle an insulated wire. He now laid the cylin- 
der on a table and fastened each of the wires to a 
terminal of a small, but powerful electric motor. 

“All right now, switch her on and let’s see her 
hum.” 

Instantly Jack threw over the lever, but, alas for 
the hopes of the boys, nothing resulted. As they 
looked at each other keen disappointment was evi- 
dent on both faces. Almost instantly, however. 
Jack grabbed his brother by the arm and almost 
shouted. 

“Well, if I’m not the original clumsy Claude.” 

“What is it? Tell me quick.” 

“Why, don’t you see? I gave you two positive 
caps instead of a positive and negative.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 


7 


Bob quickly picked up the cylinder, and a glance 
told him that his brother was right. Quickly un- 
screwing one cap he replaced it with a similar ap- 
pearing one, but which was marked — instead of +. 

‘‘Now we’re off again, switch her on,” and this 
time, to their intense delight, no sooner was the 
switch thrown than the little motor sprang to life, 
and the armature began to revolve with a whirl 
which seemed to shout success to the two boys. 
Catching hold of each other’s hands they danced 
about the room fairly shouting their joy. 

“For mercy sakes, what is this, a new kind of a 
war dance?” asked a mild voice, and stopping just 
at the beginning of a wild yell, the boys saw that 
their father had entered the room. 

“Oh, dad,” cried both boys, running to him and 
catching him by the arms. “It works, it works. 
Just see it go.” 

“Well, well, so it does, so it does,” said Mr. Gol- 
den eagerly. “Boys, I certainly congratulate you; 
you have done a big thing and if it works as well 
as it seems to be doing, it will be one of the greatest 
inventions of the day.” 

“Now,” said Jack, “we must see how long it 
will — hold on a minute,” and to their amazement 
he rushed to the back door flung it open and dashed 
across the yard. He was gone fully five minutes 
and when he returned was panting for all he was 
worth. 


^ THE GOLDEN BOYS 

‘‘Didn’t you see him?” he demanded. 

“See who?” asked Bob. 

“Why, sure as I live, Fred Jenkins was looking 
in that window. He lit out, though, and got away 
before I could get out.” 

“What do you suppose he wanted?” asked Mr. 
Golden. 

“Well, I’ll tell you, dad,” replied Bob. “Ever 
since we came down from the lake Fred and Will 
Jenkins have been trying to find out what we’ve 
been doing. You know they almost got us on that 
new vibrator we invented, owing to our carelessness 
in leaving it on the table one day when they came 
in.” 

“Yes,” broke in Jack, “and they are just mean 
enough to sneak round and try to steal our new 
storage cell.” 

“We’ve got to be mighty careful this time,” con- 
tinued Bob, “and not let one of those caps get into 
their hands, for the secret of the whole thing is in 
them, as it is the action of the different metals com- 
posing them which starts the manganese dioxide 
to decomposing and converts its chemical energy into 
electricity.” 

“Well, come on boys,” said Mr. Golden as soon 
a’s Bob had finished. “Your mother sent me down 
to tell you to come to supper, and we mustn’t be 
late, as she has company.” 

“All right,” was Bob’s reply “Just let me con- 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 


9 


nect the motor with this clock. You see/’ he ex- 
plained, ‘T have it arranged so that when it stops the 
clock will stop also and we can tell how long it has 
run.” 

Several times that evening the boys ran down to 
the basement to see if the motor was still going, 
and as it was humming merrily at 10:30, they de- 
cided to go to bed and trust to the clock to tell them 
when it stopped. 

Early the next morning they rushed to the lab- 
oratory before they were half dressed, to find the 
motor silent and the hands of the clock pointing to 
4:35. 

‘Whoop,” shouted Jack, as he caught sight of 
the face of the clock, “that’s almost twelve hours, 
just think of ft Bob. One of those cylinders will 
run the Sprite ten or twelve hours, and it wasn’t 
full either.” 

“It’s sure great,” returned Bob with no less en- 
thusiasm. “I guess we’ll show the Jenkins some 
sailing now.” 

“That’s what we will,” agreed Jack. “Now we 
must get busy and fill some more of those cylinders.” 


10 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER 11. 

JACK TAKES A BATH. 

‘‘Come there, I say, are you going to sleep all 
day?’^ 

Jack Golden was just dreaming that he had run 
the Sprite into a big rock and was much relieved to 
find that the resulting thump was nothing more 
serious than the bang of a pillow thrown at his head 
by his brother. 

‘‘Hey, cut that out,” he mumbled, but half awake. 
“What time is it, anyway?” 

“Time you were up and dressed,” was Bob's an- 
swer. “Today is Wednesday, and the race is Sat- 
urday, and, take it from me, we have a lot of work 
cut out for us before then if we are going to get 
the Sprite ready.” 

“I guess that's right, all right,” was the sleepy 
answer. “If we're going to get that new moter 
installed in the Sprite, we sure have got to hustle. 
I'll be dressed in less than half a shake.” 

It was not yet 5 o'clock, but the Golden boys 
were early risers, especially when they had work to 
do. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 11 


Quickly dressing, they rushed down to the labora- 
tory where they found old Mike busily engaged 
sweeping up the dirt they had made the day before. 
Mike McGinty was an Irishman and was very proud 
of that fact. It was his boast that “Ivery bone in 
my body is pure Irish, and don’t you fergit it, young 
feller.” He was about 40 years old, and for the 
last twenty years had been man-of-all-work for the 
Goldens. He was very quick witted, good natured, 
had a decided mechanical turn, and his “byes,” as he 
called Bob and Jack, were “the finest iver,” and woe 
betide the person who said anything against them 
in his hearing. A good part of his time was spent 
helping the boys in the laboratory, and he was so 
careful and trustworthy that they found his help 
almost indispensable. 

While waiting to be called to breakfast, the boys 
packed up what tools and material they would need, 
for as soon as possible they intended to start for 
the lake and put a new twenty horsepower electric 
motor in the Sprite. Jack had just put the last 
tool in place when the breakfast bell rang. 

As soon as the meal was finished. Bob said : ‘‘J^ck, 
you run over to the garage and bring round the big 
car and Mike and I will get the stuff up from the 
lab.” 

“Bejabers and do yees think ye're agoing to take 
all that truck in the car?” 

“Sure, Mike, there’s lots of room in the back. 


12 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Here’s Jack now. Easy now with that motor and 
don’t for mercy’s sake, drop it. If we break it 
there’ll be no time to get it fixed.” 

In addition to the tools and motor they were 
taking a lot of cooked stuff, for they did not intend 
to come down till they had finished, and as the fam- 
ily were not at the lake just then, there was no one 
to cook for them, and the boys did not want to 
take the time, although they could cook when nec- 
essary. 

Soon all was packed in the rear of the car and 
saying goodbye to the folks, who had come to see 
them off, they started with Bob at the wheel. Jack 
beside him, while Mike sandwiched himself in the 
back seat. 

It was a run of about ten miles to the cottage, 
as it was at the extreme upper end of the lake, but 
Bob was a fast driver, and in about thirty minutes 
their destination hove in sight. 

‘Well, byes, here we are, right side up wid care, 
bejabers,” shouted Mike, tumbling out of the ma- 
chine as it came to a stop. “Sure and I thought 
I’d break ivery blessed Irish bone in me body bump- 
ing round wid all that truck.” 

“I guess Irish bones must be pretty strong,” 
laughed Jack, as he unlocked the door of the boat- 
house. 

It was but a few minutes’ work to unload, and 
soon all three were in the boathouse busily engaged 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 13 


taking the old engine out of the Sprite and so rap- 
idly did they work, stopping only for a cold bite 
at noon, that by 6 o'clock it was all apart and out 
of the boat. 

‘‘Now, Jack, while Mike and I are packing this 
stuff away suppose you take ':he canoe and see if 
you can get a few perch for supper," proposed Bob. 
“You will find some worms in that pail in the 
comer." 

“Right you are, son, perch is my middle name," 
replied Jack, and in almost less time than it takes 
to tell it, he had the little canoe in the water and 
was paddling across toward a little cove, the best 
fishing ground on the lake. 

“Guess I’ll try trolling first," he said to himself, 
and baiting a hook, he let out about forty feet of 
line and began rowing at a rate just sufficient to 
keep the canoe in motion. The fish bit well, and 
in less than a half hour he had a dozen fine perch 
flopping about in the bottom of the boat. 

“No use in catching more than we can use,” he 
thought, as he reeled in his line and started for the 
other shore. Hardly had he taken up the oars how- 
ever, when, looking up, he saw a new motorboat 
coming rapidly up the pond, and only a short dis- 
tance away. “That’s the Jenkins boys in their new 
boat, the Winner, and she sure is some boat," 
thought Jack. 

“Hello there, sonny, how they biting?" shouted 


14 THE GOLDEN BOYS 

Will Jenkins, as soon as they were within hearing 
distance. 

‘Tair,’’ replied Jack as shortly as possible, for he 
did not relish being called “sonny^’ by them. 

‘‘Say,’’ shouted Fred Jenkins, “are you going to 
enter the Sprite in the race Saturday ?” 

“Mebbe.” 

“Well, it won’t be any use; we can run circles 
round your old tub with this boat.” 

“She certainly does look fast,” replied Jack. 

“Fast? She’s a streak, and look at her name — 
that’s no lie.” 

While talking the Jenkins boys had shut down 
their engine, and the two boats were only about 
thirty feet apart. 

“Well, so long, we’ll see you Saturday, if you 
can manage to keep in sight,” taunted Fred, as he 
threw over the fly wheel of his engine. 

The Winner started off at a good speed straight 
for the canoe. Probably Fred did not intend to 
run Jack down, but he evidently purposed to come 
as close as possible without hitting and give him a 
good scare. But just as he was going to turn to 
avoid hitting the canoe, something went wrong with 
the tiller and the next moment Jack was in the 
water. He could swim like a fish and shaking the 
water out of his eyes he struck out for the canoe 
which was floating bottom up a few feet away. 

Wou clumsy Claudes,” he shouted as he caught 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 15 


hold of the canoe. “Isn't the lake big enough for 
you to turn your old scow in?” Jack was mad 
clear through, for it had looked to him as though 
Fred had hit him intentionally. Fortunately, the 
canoe was so light, that it was not stove in, and he 
had little trouble in righting it and climbing in. 
Meanwhile, the Winner had come about. 

“Say, Jack, I didn't mean to hit you; my tiller 
rope stuck and I couldn't turn her,” said Fred. “Are 
you all right?” 

“I guess so, but the next time you want to give 
me a wider berth or I'll be tempted to put a head 
on you.” 

“Ho, ho, hear the young bantam! Suppose you 
learn how to spell able.” 

Jack said nothing more but paddled about and 
managed to pick up all but two or three of his fish, 
while the Winner headed down the lake and was 
soon lost to sight round the bend. 

“Just the same I don't believe he tried very hard 
not to hit me,” muttered Jack as he headed the 
canoe toward the cottage. 

He found that Bob and Mike had just finished 
packing away the old engine and told them what 
had happened. 

“Begorra,” said Mike, “that was a mean trick. 
If I had them two young saplin's in me hands I'd 
rap their two heads together, so I would.” 

“Well,” said Bob, “perhaps it was as Fred said 


16 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


and only an accident, but he ouglit to be taught to 
be more careful. However no great harm is done 
and now let’s go up to the house and get some sup- 
per; I’m hungry enough to eat those fish raw.” 

Supper over and the dishes washed, it was nearly 
9 o’clock, and the boys decided that they would go 
to bed and be up bright and early in the morning. 

It seemed to Bob that he had hardly touched the 
pillow when some one began to shake him and 
opening his sleepy eyes he saw Mike standing by 
his bed, holding a lantern in his hand. 

'‘Jump up and dress quick,” he said, ‘^some one 
is trying to get in to the boathouse. I was smok- 
ing a last pipe by the window and saw him sneaking 
round.” 

By this time Jack also was awake and in less than 
a minute they were out of bed and had pulled on 
trousers and shoes. 

''Now, Mike, you slip down by the shore, and 
Jack and I will go round through the woods. Go 
easy now, for I want to find out who it is.” 

The boathouse was about 100 feet from the cot- 
tage, and the boys crept quickly through the trees, 
which were not very dense. It was a bright moon- 
light night, and as they emerged from the woods 
and were within about twenty feet of the boathouse, 
they saw two boys close to the house, evidently try- 
ing to get a window open. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 17 


“Come on now,” whispered Bob, “let's make a 
nish for them.” 

Springing from the bushes the two boys darted 
toward the boathouse, and before the intruders 
could recover from their surprise, they were grabbed 
and thrown to the ground. It is not to be supposed 
that they gave in without a struggle, and for a few 
moments the fight waged fast and furious. But 
the Golden boys were strong and the fight was over 
by the time Mike showed up. 

“Ah, I thought so,” muttered Bob, as he turned 
his captive over. “What are you doing here this 
time of night. Will Jenkins?” 

“You let me up,” was the dogged reply. “Can't 
a fellow take a walk without being jumped on?” 

“Yes,” replied Bob, “but you can’t get into our 
boathouse in the middle of the night, not if we see 
you first.” 

“Aw, we weren’t trying to get into your old 
shack. We were only walking by and happened to 
look in,” was the sullen answer. 

“I don’t believe a word of it,” said Jack, letting 
up his captive, who proved to be Fred Jenkins. 
“They were trying to get in to find out what we 
have been doing.” 

“Now see here,” said Bob, letting his captive up, 
“you hike out of here and what’s more you keep 
away, see?” 

“Yis and begorry,” broke in Mike, “if I catch 


18 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


yees sneaking round here again sure and it’s meself 
that’ll be timpted to throw yees into the drink.” 

Muttering something about getting even, the two 
crestfallen boys slunk away. 

‘*Now you byes go up to the house and go to 
bed,” ordered Mike. “I’m agoing to sleep in the 
boathouse, and if them fellers come back here they’ll 
think the auld bye hisself is after them.” 

“All right,” agreed Bob, “I guess that will be 
the best plan. Come on, Jack, it is nearly 1 o’clock, 
and we have a big day’s work ahead for tomorrow.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 19 


CHAPTER III. 

THE STOLEN CAP. 

*'Say, Bob how fast do you suppose that new 
boat of the Jenkins boys will go?” 

‘T don’t know, but she is sure some speeder and 
I tell you what, sonny, the Sprite has got to cut 
through the wet a whole lot faster than she ever did 
before if we are going to hang on to that blue rib- 
bon.” 

It was late Friday afternoon, and Mike and the 
boys had just finished putting in the new motor. 

‘‘Jack,” continued Bob, “you run up to the house 
and get those end caps, will you, while Mike and I 
run the boat out? Just as soon as it gets a little 
dark I want to give her a try-out.” 

Jack rushed off to the house while Mike swung 
open the big doors, and in a few moments the Sprite 
was floating at the pier. Just then Jack came run- 
ning wildly down the path leading from the house, 
and as soon as he reached the wharf asked eagerly : 

“Didn’t you say you left those caps in the table 
drawer in the bedroom?” 


20 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Yes, why, didn’t you find them?'’ 

“No, they are not there.” 

“But they must be. I saw them there this morn- 
ing,” insisted Bob. 

“Well they might have been there then, but they 
aren’t there now, that is, not unless I’ve lost my 
eyesight, and I seem to see you iairly well,” replied 
Jack grimly. 

“O pshaw, you probably overlooked them. Come 
on back to the house and I’ll show you where they 
are,” said Bob starting for the house on a run. 

“All right,” answered Jack, close at his heels, 
“I’m from Missouri all right.” 

In a moment the boys, with Mike bringing up 
the rear, reached the bedroom and as Bob yanked 
open the drawer, he said, “Some people never can 
find anything.” But the next moment he started 
back in dismay, for although he had taken every- 
thing out of the drawer, the caps were not there. 

“Well that’s mighty funny,” he muttered. “I 
declare I saw those caps there this morning.” 

“Who’s loony now?” jeered Jack, as he saw the 
look of dismay on his brother’s face. 

But the caps were gone and a thorough search of 
the room, and the entire house as well, failed to dis- 
close them. 

“Well, begorra, one thing is certain sure,” de- 
clared Mike, “them ere caps didn’t walk out ’o here 
all by their lonesome. Somebody sure swiped ’em.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 21 


Just then a loud cry of ‘'Bob, Mike, come out 
here quick,'’ brought them running down the stairs 
to the back door, where they found Jack on his 
hands and knees in the path which led to the woods 
back of the house. 

“Say, did either of you go out here since dinner ?” 

“No,” both replied. 

“Well then,” continued Jack, “you know we had 
a hard shower just after dinner and these tracks 
were surely made since then.” 

“By Jove, that’s so,” affirmed Bob, examining the 
tracks carefully. “And look here, these tracks were 
made by some one wearing sneakers. Now who 
wears sneakers round here?” 

“Why,” replied Jack, “Fred and Will Jenkins 
most always wear them when they are up here.” 

“That’s so, and I’ll bet a fishhook that one of 
them sneaked in here while we were at the boat- 
house,” said Bob. “You remember, don’t you Jack, 
that you saw one of them at the window of the lab 
when we were trying them? They must have sus- 
pected then that we were up to something, and then 
the fact that we have been hard at work here ever 
since would make them feel sure that we were doing 
something to the Sprite.” 

“Begorra, and I’m jist agoing to go down to their 
place and make ’em hand ’em over,” almost shouted 
Mike. 

“No, no, that won’t do,” said Bob. “You see. 


22 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


we have no positive proof that they took them, and 
of course they would deny itJ* 

“But, Bob,’’ spoke up Jack. “We’ve just got to 
get those caps back. They can get them analyzed 
and find out how they are made and then our secret 
is up the flue, because most anyone who knows any- 
thing about storage batteries would know that we 
use either manganese or lead dioxide in the cylinder, 
and besides we haven’t time to make any more be- 
fore the race.” 

“You’re right there, son. Now just let me think 
a minute,” said Bob, and then a moment later, “I’m 
going to try it. It’s the only way and it may work.” 

“What may work?” asked Jack. 

“Never mind just now, but I’m going to get those 
caps back if they haven’t thrown them into the lake 
or break a tug trying.” 

That night about 8.30, Bob, dressed in a dark 
suit and wearing sneakers, stole down to the boat- 
house, and getting into the little canoe, started pad- 
dling down the lake. The Jenkins cottage was about 
three miles from the head of the lake, on the east 
shore. It stood in a thick grove of cedars, about 
forty feet from the shore. 

Reaching a place, about a quarter of a mile from 
the cottage, just inside a point of land reaching out 
into the lake. Bob drew his canoe from the water 
and hid it in a little clump of bushes near the water’s 
edge. Circling around away from the lake he ap- 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 23 


preached the house from the rear. As he got 
within a few paces of the cottage, a dog began to 
bark and Bob shuddered as he knew that they kept 
a large collie which had a reputation of being very 
savage. 

“He’s coming this way sure as guns,” thought 
Bob, as he heard the animal creeping through the 
bushes. Picking up a stone about as large as his 
fist, which he felt under his feet, he crept back be- 
hind a tree, hoping that the dog would not follow. 
But this hope was not realized, for the keen-nosed 
animal had scented him, and with a low growl was 
approaching. Holding the stone tightly Bob waited 
for the attack which he saw was inevitable. Just 
then the moon came out from behind a cloud and 
by its light, he saw the brute almost upon him and 
about to spring. Drawing back his arm he let fly 
the rock. Bob had pitched on the Skowhegan high 
school team for two years, and his practice now 
stood him in good stead, for the stone flew true to 
the mark and hit the dog right between the eyes. 
With a single loud yelp he went down, gave a kick 
or two and was still. 

“By Gum, I believe I’ve killed him,” said Bob to 
himself. “Well, it was either he or I and I’m mighty 
glad it wasn’t L” 

Just then some one shouted from the house: 
“Here, Brave, come here, where are you?” 

Bob recognized Fred Jenkins’ voice and then he 


24 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


heard two persons coming toward him. Quickly he 
grabbed hold of the dead animal and dragged it into 
some thick bushes. Hardly had he done this and 
dodged back behind the tree, when he heard Fred 
and Will Jenkins within a few feet of where he was 
standing. 

“Where do you suppose that dog went to?’' he 
heard Fred say. 

“I don’t know, but I guess likely he heard a rab- 
bit or something and has gone on a chase after it,” 
replied Will, adding a moment later, “Let’s go back 
to the house. If he’s on a rabbit trail we won’t 
see him till morning.” 

“No, I guess you won’t,” chuckled Bob as, much 
relieved, he heard them making their way back 
through the bushes. He waited till he thought they 
had had time to get back, then carefully creeping on 
his hands and knees he slowly approached the house. 

The front porch, as he knew, was built up from 
the ground, being faced with lattice work, while both 
ends were open. Carefully creeping closer, he slipped 
through the open end of the porch and stretched 
himself at full length on the ground. To his great 
disappointment he heard nothing for some time and 
was about to crawl out when he heard a door bang 
over his head, and the creaking of chairs told him 
that the boys had come out on the porch. To his 
delight he found that he could hear perfectly all 
that was said. For some time they talked about 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 25 


things of no interest to our hero, and he was getting 
pretty badly cramped from lying so long in one 
position, for he did not dare move, but just then he 
heard Will Jenkins say: 

‘Tred, when are you going to take those caps 
down to the city and have them analyzed?’^ 

“Oh, some time the first of the week,’^ was the 
reply, then he added, “If it wasn’t for the race I’d 
take them down tomorrow.” 

“Oh, well, I guess next week will do just as well, 
but I want it done as soon as possible,” he heard 
Will say; then after a short pause he added: “I 
suppose those two swell heads will make a big howl, 
but they can’t prove anything, and we have sure 
put them out of the race tomorrow.” 

“Perhaps we can’t prove it,” thought Bob, “but 
here’s betting that we come pretty near it.” 

“Oh, by the way, where did you put them ?” asked 
Fred a moment later to Bob’s delight. 

“I’ve got ’em safe,” was the reply, “in my coat 
pocket, in the closet in our room.” 

“All right, you lock up and I’ll go down to the 
spring and get a pail of water.” 

Bob heard them go into the house and in a mo- 
ment one came out and started for the spring, a 
little to one side of the house, while he could hear 
the other going about locking the windows. Soon 
the one with the water returned and in a short time 
all was quiet. Bob waited a little longer and then 


26 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


carefully crept out and sat down behind some bushes 
a few feet away. 

“ril wait an hour/' he thought as he looked at 
his watch and saw that it was a few minutes past 
10 o'clock. 

It was hard work to keep awake and the time 
passed very slowly, but at last the watch told him 
that the hour was up. Going to* the back of the 
house, he carefully examined the windows and fin- 
ally found one that he thought he could unlock. 

‘Well," he thought, “I never supposed that I 
would turn burglar, but I'm going to have one big 
try for those caps, so here goes." 

With a strong knife blade he managed to push 
back the catch, and quietly raised the window. 
Slowly and noiselessly he crept through and flashing 
his electric torch about, advanced to the front of the 
house. Although he had been there several times be- 
fore, he had never been upstairs and did not know 
in what room the boys slept. His heart was beating 
so that he was almost afraid that some one would 
hear it, as he was beginning to realize that he was 
engaged in a very serious and dangerous undertak- 
ing. He did not know for sure whether or not the 
two boys were alone in the house, but as he had 
'heard no one else on the porch he thought it prob- 
able that the rest of the family was at their home 
in Skowhegan. 

Very carefully he crept up the stairs and a flash 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 27 


of the torch showed him that four rooms opened 
from the hall. He stood still a moment and lis- 
tened. The sound of deep breathing in one of the 
front rooms soon told him which was occupied and 
stepping to the door a flash showed him two forms 
in the bed. 

“This is the room/’ he thought, “and that must be 
the closet, by the head of the bed. It sure couldn’t 
be in a worse place. Wonder if I can get the door 
open without waking them?” 

Like a cat he crept across the room and fumbled 
with his hand till he found the knob. The door 
squeaked slightly as he pulled it open, and one of 
the sleepers stirred and mumbled something about 
an electric boat. Bob’s heart seemed to come al- 
most into his throat, but in a minute the regular 
breathing of the sleeper reassured him and he edged 
into the closet. There were quite a lot of clothes 
hanging there, but he had not searched far when 
he felt something hard in one of the pockets, and 
the next instant he had transferred the precious caps 
to his own pocket. 

“Now for a quick get-away,” he muttered. But 
it seemed that Bob’s good luck was to end right 
there, for as he stepped out of the closet his foot 
caught in something on the floor, and he fell for- 
ward into the room with a crash that fairly shook 
the house. 


28 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER IV. 

THE TRY-OUT. 

‘‘Oh, Mr. Burglar, please don't hurt me.” 

This was what Bob heard as he picked himself 
up from the floor. The room was pitch dark, but 
it was evident that both the boys in the bed had 
been awakened by the noise and that they were also 
in a state of terror. Taking advantage of their 
panic, Bob quickly found his way to the hall and 
flashing his light, ran down the stairs and out the 
front door. Just as he stepped from the porch a 
revolver shot rang out from an upper window. 

“Guess they got up enough spunk to get out of 
bed," chuckled Bob, as he crouched behind a con- 
venient bush, and he could not resist the temptation 
to sing out, “Next time you steal anything you bet- 
ter not talk so loudly about where you hide it.” 

“I’ll have you arrested for burglary. Bob Golden,” 
came in angry tones from the window. 

“All right, go ahead,” replied Bob, “but I guess 
you’ll have a fine time explaining how my property 
came to be in your coat pocket.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 29 


He waited to hear no more, but making his way 
as quickly as possible to where he had left the canoe, 
he lost no time in getting it into the water. Jump- 
ing in he bent to the paddle with all his strength 
and in about a half hour rounded the point, just 
behind which was the boathouse. He found Jack 
and Mike waiting for him on the porch. 

“Gee, I thought you’d never come,” said Jack. 
“Did you get them ?” 

“I did that,” chuckled Bob, getting out of the 
canoe, and then of course he had to tell them all 
about it. 

“Smart bye,” said Mike, when he had finished, 
“Sure and you’d make one peach of a burglar.” 

“Perhaps,” said Bob, “but I don’t fancy the part, 
it’s bad for the nerves. Now,” he continued, “it’s 
about 2 o’clock and we must get some sleep for I 
want to be up by daybreak and give the Sprite a 
tryout before any one is about.” 

“Well I guess I will stay up till you wake,” pro- 
posed Mike, “in case they try to get those caps 
back.” 

“Perhaps that would be the best plan,” agreed 
Bob, “ I don’t believe they would have the nerve to 
try to get into the house, but they might try to break 
into the boathouse to injure the Sprite. It’ll only 
be about three hours, for I want you to call us at 5 
o’clock sharp.” 

It seemed to the boys that they had hardly fallen 


30 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


asleep when they heard Mike pounding on the door. 
‘^All right,” shouted Bob, ‘‘we’ll be right down.” 

Day was just breaking as they came out of the 
house. It took but a short time to get the Sprite 
into the lake, slip the cylinder in place and adjust 
the caps. 

“Now,” said Jack eagerly, “for the first trip with 
electricity.” 

It was surely an anxious moment to the boys, 
for if anything was wrong, there was but little time 
for adjustment. 

“Push her off, Mike, and then jump in,” ordered 
Bob. 

Running the boat out to the end of the wharf, 
Mike gave her a push, jumping in as he did so, and 
a second later the Sprite was floating about twenty 
feet from the shore. Bob at once turned on the 
juice, as he expressed it, and to their delight the 
propeller began to beat the water. 

“Hurrah!” shouted both Jack and Mike, “She’s 
going.” 

“Yes, she’s going,” repeated Bob, heading her 
down the lake. “Now to see if she will make any 
kind of time.” 

Slowly he pushed the switch over notch by notch, 
and faster and faster the Sprite cut through the 
water, till Jack declared that they were going fully 
as fast as they ever went with the old engine. “Have 
you got on full power?” he asked eagerly. 


AND THElli NEW ELECTRIC CELL ol 

“No/' replied Bob, “only about half. But don't 
it seem funny not to hear her puff?’' 

“It sure does,’’ assented Jack, “but push her 
over and let’s see how fast she can go.” 

Faster and faster the boat cut through the water 
till it seemed to the boys that they were almost 
flying. 

“Jiminy- jumped-up!” ejaculated Mike, speaking 
for the first time, “but ye’ll get a hot box if ye don’t 
slow her down.” 

“No danger of that,” laughed Bob, “but we’re 
going fifteen miles an hour if we’re going an inch, 
and the best of it is she seems to be running in per- 
fect order.” 

They sailed about the lake for about an hour and 
expressed themselves as being well satisfied with 
the results and confident that they would be able to 
keep the coveted blue ribbon. As Jack expressed it, 
“The Winner would have to go a good deal faster 
that afternoon than she ever had before to justify 
her name.” 

“Well, I guess we'd better go back now and get 
some eats,” proposed Bob. 

“Second the motion,” shouted Jack, “I'm hungry 
enough to eat almost anything.” 

On the west shore of the lake, about half way 
down, was a grove where were a hotel, a summer 
theater and other places of amusement. Past the 
lake, about a quarter of a mile distant, ran a trolley 


^2 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


line, about ten miles long, connecting the towns of 
Skowhegan and Madis. A spur track ran down to 
the lake almost to its edge. 

The starting point for the race was directly in 
front of the hotel, while the course was marked out ' 
by buoys and ran down the lake on the east side, 
up on the west side nearly to the head, then down to 
the starting point, making a course of about twelve 
miles. 

By 2.30 o'clock a large crowd of people had col- 
lected in the grove, for the great race was scheduled 
to start at 3.00, and promptly on time ten motor 
boats lined up ready for the starter's shot. 

Besides the Sprite and the Winner, there were 
the Eagle, a fast little sixteen-footer, carrying a ten 
horsepower, two-cylinder engine; the Chum, twenty 
feet long with fifteen horsepower, and the Rocket, 
eighteen feet long, equipped with an engine of four- 
teen horsepower. The other five boats I will not 
attempt to describe, as they did not figure promi- 
nently in the race. 

The Sprite was stationed farthest from the shore, 
then came the Winner, Eagle, Chum and Rocket 
in the order named. 

Many ugly glances did the owners of the Winner 
cast at the Sprite and its crew as they took their 
places, but no words passed between them till just 
before the start, when in a sneering tone, Fred Jen- 
kins said, “Bet you a hundred dollars we beat you." 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 33 


“We don’t bet,” replied Bob. 

“Huh, afraid,” sneered Will Jenkins. “Tell you 
what I’ll do, ril make it a hundred dollars or any 
amount you like that we come in twenty lengths 
ahead.” 

“Nothing doing,” calmly replied Bob, and at that 
moment the starter’s voice rang out, “Are you all 
ready ?” 

“Aye, aye, sir,” was the response. 

“All right then, stand by,” and a second later, 
crack, went his revolver. Instantly nine fly wheels 
were turned over, but Bob sitting in the bow of the 
Sprite turned the switch to the first notch. 


34 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER V. 

THE RACE. 

‘'Hurrah ; hurrah !” shouted the crowd, “They’re 
off.” 

Down the lake swept the ten boats, the Winner 
taking the lead, closely followed by the Eagle, then 
came the Chum, the Rocket and the Sprite, the other 
boats bringing up the rear. By each buoy a boat 
was stationed to see that there was no cutting of 
corners. The boats passed the first buoy, about 
half a mile from the start, in the order named, the 
Winner being then about fifty feet ahead of the 
Sprite. 

“Say, Bob,” asked Jack, “how much power you 
got on?” 

“Only about two-thirds,” replied Bob. “But T 
don’t believe the Winner is doing her best yet.” 

“Well don’t let her get any farther ahead if you 
can help it,” advised Jack. 

“I won’t replied Bob grimly. ^T’m going to try 
to close up a little now.” 

Throwing the switch over another notch, the boys 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 35 


were gratified to find that they were creeping up on 
the Rocket, and by the time they had passed the 
second buoy at the foot of the lake, they had passed 
both the Rocket and the Chum, and only a half- 
length separated them from the Eagle, while the 
Winner was only a length ahead of its nearest rival. 

“I'm going to keep her like this, whispered Bob, 
“unless they go faster, and I think they are doing 
pretty near their best." 

All the way up the east side of the lake the three 
leading boats kept at about the same relative dis- 
tance, while the rest of the fleet was hopelessly out 
of the race. As they passed the last buoy, about 
a mile from the end, Fred Jenkins turned and 
shouted, “Now we're going to show you some 
speed." 

The boys saw him turn his timer and almost im- 
mediately the Winner began to forge ahead of the 
others. 

“Look out. Bob," whispered excited Jack, “Don't 
let her get away from you." 

Bob's answer was to turn the switch another 
notch and in a very short time the Sprite had passed 
the Eagle and only a length separated the two lead- 
ing boats. 

“I've still got two more notches," whispered Bob, 
“and I think they're doing their best, and we’re 
gaining on them.” 

Foot by foot the Sprite crept up on the Winner 


36 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


till, when they were about a half mile from the fin- 
ish, the two boats were racing side by side. 

‘‘Let her out another notch,” urged Jack, and as 
Bob complied. Jack, delighted to see that they were 
drawing away from the Winner, could not keep 
from shouting, ‘‘Goodby, see you later.” But only 
angry looks answered him. 

Just then they passed a small rowboat carrying 
a lady and two little girls, and a moment later the 
two boys were startled to hear a wild shriek. Turn- 
ing they were just in time to see the Winner strike 
the small boat a glancing blow. The blow was not 
hard enough to cause the Winner to swerve from 
her course or to upset the boat, but it threw the girls 
into a panic, and standing up in the boat, it almost 
immediately capsized. 

^‘Quick, reverse her,” shouted Jack and forgetful 
of the race Bob pushed back the switch and shot in 
the reverse, at the same time turning the tiller wheel 
to its full limit. It took but a moment for the boat 
to turn and start back full speed, while the Winner 
shot past, her course unchanged. 

“The miserable cowards,” muttered Bob, “they 
aren't going to stop.” 

In almost less time than it takes to tell it, the 
Sprite was back by the overturned boat. The 
woman was clinging to the end, but the two girls 
were nowhere to be seen. Quickly shutting off the 
power. Bob shouted : “Dive, Jack, dive.” Over the 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 37 


side went Jack, followed a second later by Bob. The 
water was about twenty feet deep and very clear, 
and opening his eyes Bob saw something white 
about ten feet away and a few strokes enabled him 
to grasp it. Kicking out lustily he was soon above 
water, holding one of the little girls by the hair. 
Glancing about he soon spied Jack with the other 
girl swimming toward the Sprite, which had floated 
some distance away. However, it took them but a 
short time to reach her, and they soon had the two 
girls in the boat. They had not been in the water 
long, but both were unconscious. 

“Now, Jack, roll them on the bottom of the boat 
while I start her up and get the woman.” 

Quickly she was pulled into the boat almost ex- 
hausted. “My girls, are they dead?” she moaned. 

“I don’t think so,” replied Bob, heading the Sprite 
full speed for the wharf, about a quarter of a mile 
distant. 

As the Sprite swung in toward the dock, she was 
greeted with a tremendous cheer by the crowd, 
which had watched the rescue, and as the boat 
struck, eager hands lifted the little girls, who had 
as yet shown no signs of life, from the boat. It 
happened that two doctors were present, and they 
at once set to work to bring back the lives so nearly 
gone. In a few moments, to the joy of the crowd, 
one of them began to show signs of life and a little 
later the other opened her eyes. When told that 


38 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


they would live, the joy and enthusiasm of the peo- 
ple knew no bounds, and Bob and Jack were nearly 
overwhelmed with praise. Among the first to reach 
them were Mr. and Mrs. Golden. 

‘That was worth more, my boys, than winning 
all the races in the world,'' was Mr. Golden's greet- 
ing, as he took them in his arms, while the tears 
ran down the cheeks of their mother as she silently 
kissed them. 

“Where are those boys?" shouted a tall, broad- 
shouldered man as he pushed his way through the 
crowd, and then, as he saw them, “That was my 
wife and those were my little girls," and his eyes 
glistened as he tried to thank them. The boys tried 
to tell him that it was nothing, but he wouldn't 
have it so. It developed that he was a rich mer- 
chant from Philadelphia, by name, Samuel Wright, 
who had that summer purchased a cottage at the 
lake. Before he would let them go he had made 
them promise that they would call on him the next 
day or Monday. 

“Well, boys, I guess we had better be getting 
over to the ‘Roost,' " said Mr. Golden, as soon as 
they could get away from the crowd. “Your mother 
has finished her canning and we are going to stay 
at the cottage a few weeks." 

As the boys stepped on the wharf, they were 
startled to see two men in the Sprite. They were 


AND THEIR i^EW ELECTRIC CELL 39 


bending over the motor, but straightened up as the 
boys approached. 

“Fine boat you have here,” said the older of the 
two, a man about fifty years old, thick set and wear- 
ing a full beard. His companion was about five 
years younger, of rather slight build and smooth 
face. 

“Yes, she’s pretty fair,” returned Bob rather 
dryly, for he did not like the looks of the two men 
and did not relish the idea of them getting into the 
boat without permission. However, he did not 
want to appear too churlish. 

“Jack,” said Bob, “you run up to the hotel and 
help bring down the stuff while I clean up the boat, 
will you?” A wink told Jack that Bob did not 
want to leave the boat alone, so he turned back to 
the hotel while Bob, seizing the painter, pulled the 
Sprite up to the wharf. The two men at once got 
out and, with an apology for their intrusion, turned 
away. 

In about ten minutes the Golden family, includ- 
ing Edna, appeared, well laden with suit cases and 
bundles. 

“Say, Bob,” asked Mr. Golden, “do you think 
you can get us all over in one load? May is 
going too,” May Brown was Edna’s chum, of 
about her age and often spent several weeks at a 
time at the Golden cottage. She was a verry jolly 


40 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


girl, and the Goldens were always glad to have her 
with them. 

^‘Sure thing,’’ replied Bob, ‘‘lots of room.” 

“Let’s hurry then,” said his mother, “I’m afraid 
you boys will catch cold in those wet clothes.” 

“No danger of that,” laughed Jack, “It isn’t the 
first time we’ve been wet, eh. Bob?” 

Soon they were all aboard, bag and baggage and 
the Sprite’s bow was headed up the lake. 

But what of the winners of the great race? As 
the Winner shot over the finish line, not a cheer 
greeted her, and her owners, seeing only hostile 
looks on the faces of the crowd, never stopped, but 
kept on down the lake. 

“Confound it,” muttered Fred, “I guess we’ve 
botched things again.” 

“Well, it’s all your fault,” growled Will, “I told 
you to stop.” 

“I know you did, but I thought some of the other 
boats behind would be near enough to pick them up, 
and I didn’t want to lose the race.” 

“It seems, though, that we didn’t exactly cover 
ourselves with glory by winning,” said Will grimly. 

“I don’t know why it is,” argued Fred, “but it 
seems to me that those Golden boys are always get- 
ting the better of us. I wonder why it is that they 
are so much more popular than we? We have just 
as much money, if not more, than they.” 

As is usually the case, these boys could not see 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 41 


that it was their own selfish dispositions which was 
the cause of their unpopularity. 

In a little over twenty minutes the Sprite was at 
the “Roost's"’ boathouse, and soon the merry party 
had landed and carried the baggage to the cottage. 
The boys, having put on dry clothing, proposed to 
the girls that a game of tennis would be a good way 
to pass the time while supper was being prepared, 
and soon Bob and May were contesting every point 
with Jack and Edna. 

That night, after the rest of the family had re- 
tired, the two boys sat by the window, in their 
room, talking over the events of the day. 

“Say, old man,” Bob suddenly said, “I didn’t like 
the looks of those fellows we caught in the Sprite 
this afternoon. Sure as guns they were trying to 
find out all they could about that motor. They 
didn’t act right when they saw us.” 

“Well, I guess you’re right,” returned Jack. “I 
think we had better get that cell patented as soon 
as possible, before some one steals it.” 

“No, I don’t want to do that yet. I have had 
something in mind for quite a while and I want to 
keep the construction of that cell a secret for at least 
a year.” 

“What’s your idea?” 

“Well, you remember reading, a while ago, in the 
Boston paper, that a prize of fifty thousand dollars 
had been offered to the first one to fly across the 


42 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Atlantic. The difficulty has been,” he continued, 
as Jack nodded assent, '^that an airship can't carry 
enough gasoline, but we could take enough of those 
cylinders to send an aeroplane around the world.” 

‘'Gee, wouldn't that be great? Do you suppose 
father would let us try it?” 

“I don't know, but I mean to ask him and if he 
gives his consent we'll have a try at it next summer. 
Now you see why I don't want to patent the cell. 
If the secret is known, even if it is patented, some 
one might get round it in some way and beat us.” 

“Great head you've got, old man, and we'll do it, 
take my word for it, but I'm sleepy, so here goes 
for bed.” 

In a short time both boys were sound asleep, but 
if they had known of the exciting events and dan- 
gers they were to pass through during the next few 
days, it is doubtful if their dreams would have been 
as pleasant. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 43 


CHAPTER VI. 

SOME ONE ELSE TAKES A BATH. 

The next day was Sunday, and the entire family, 
including Mike, attended church in the village of 
East Madison, about a mile from the cottage. The 
afternoon was spent in reading and talking, for the 
boys never went on the lake Sunday, except in case 
of necessity. Soon after breakfast the next day. 
Jack and Bob were sitting on the porch discussing 
plans for the day, when they saw a rowboat, con- 
taining two men, rounding the point. They watched 
them, with no particular interest, till it was evident 
that they were making for their wharf, then sud- 
denly Jack declared, ''They are the men who were 
in our boat the other day.’^ 

"So they are,” affirmed Bob, "Wonder what they 
want ?” 

"Guess we'll have to wait and see,” advised Jack. 

By this time the boat was within a few feet of 
the dock, and soon she was tied and the men were 
approaching the house. 

"Good morning, boys,” said the older man, pleas- 
antly, as they reached the steps. 


44 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Good morning,” replied both boys. “Won’t you 
come up and sit down?” 

“Thanks,” and both accepted the invitation. 
“We’ve come up to have a little business talk,” be- 
gan the older man and without waiting for the boys 
to speak, he continued, “My name is Robert King, 
and this,” indicating his companion, “is William 
Reed. We are from Boston and are spending a few 
days at the hotel down the lake. Now we want to 
buy a motorboat, and seeing yours Saturday, we 
thought we might be able to strike a bargain with 
you.” 

“Sorry, sir,” broke in Bob, “but she is not for 
sale.” 

“That’s too bad,” said Mr. King, “for she is just 
what we want. Of course,” he continued, “we 
could get one like her, but it would take several days 
and we don’t want to wait, as our time is limited. 
Now I’ll tell you what we’ll do. We are both rich 
men and money is no object to us, so we get what 
we want, and we are willing to pay you one thou- 
sand dollars for the boat.” 

This, as the boys knew, was considerable more 
than the Sprite was worth, but Bob gave Jack a 
slight wink as he said : 

“That’s a very generous offer, and much more 
than the Sprite is worth, but we don’t wi.sh to sell.” 

“Suppose we make it two thousand dollars,” spoke 
up Mr. Reed. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 45 


“Nothing doing/’ replied Jack. 

“Then you won’t sell at any price ?” asked King. 

“No, not at any price,” repeated Bob. 

“Well, would you rent her to us for a few days?” 

“Sorry, sir, but you see our vacation will be over 
in a short time, and we want her to use every day,” 
replied Bob. 

“Very well, then, we’ll bid you goodby,” said Mr. 
King, as they both arose, but the look he gave them 
was by no means as pleasant as the one with which 
he had greeted them. 

As soon as the two men were out of hearing. Jack 
turned to his brother, “Pretty thin wasn’t it?” 

“It sure was; all they were after was to get hold 
of that new battery. Something tells me that we 
are going to have trouble keeping our secret.” 

At this moment their father came out on the 
porch. 

“Boys, can you take me across ? I want to catch 
the nine-thirty downtown.” 

“Sure thing,” answered Jack, “but we’ll have to 
hustle, as it’s after nine now.” 

On the way across the boys told their father about 
the visit of the two men and he agreed with them as 
to their motive. They landed Mr. Golden just in 
time for his car and, as they were casting off, they 
saw Mr. Wright running down the wharf towards 
them. 


4G 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Don’t forget, boys, that you are coming to see 
us today.” 

“All right, sir,” replied Bob, “We’ll be down 
right after supper.” 

“And bring your sister and her friend with you,” 
invited Mr. Wright. 

“We’ll do that,” answered Jack eagerly. 

The boys made good time back to the cottage, 
and spent the rest of the day playing tennis with the 
girls and swimming in the lake. As soon as supper 
was over, accompanied by the two girls, they 
started down the lake to make their promised call. 

“Hope to goodness they don’t make a big fuss 
over us,” grumbled Jack. 

“Oh, you are too modest,” declared Edna. 

They spent a very pleasant evening with the 
Wrights, although poor Jack’s worst fears were 
realized, for it seemed that Mr. and Mrs. Wright 
could not praise them enough for saving their child- 
ren. The two little girls, who were twins about ten 
years old, were very profuse with their thanks, fairly 
hugging both boys, to their embarrassment, which, 
however, greatly delighted both Edna and May. To 
their great surprise, Mr. Wright presented each of 
the boys with a very pretty gold watch “Not,” he 
said, “to pay you for saving my girls, for I could 
never do that, but as a slight token of my grati- 
tude.” 

About nine oclock they said good night and 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 47 


started for home. It was a beautiful evening and, 
although the moon was not yet up, the stars helped 
to make the darkness less intense. Bob ran the 
Sprite at about half speed, for, although they had 
an electric searchlight, he did not want to take any 
chances with the girls on board. They were about 
half way home and near the middle of the lake, 
when suddenly a rowboat loomed up dead ahead, 
and coming directly toward them. In it were two 
men. One was at the oars, while the other was sit- 
ting in the bow. In a moment the two boats were 
within speaking distance and a voice, which both 
boys recognized as King’s hailed them. 

‘T say, boys, can you give us a few matches ; our 
lantern has gone out and we haven’t a single one 
left.” 

It happened that Bob had a box of safety matches 
in his pocket, and always willing to oblige, he shut 
off the power and soon the rowboat pulled up along- 
side. Reed caught hold of the side of the Sprite to 
steady his boat, while King, dropped his oars and 
stood up in the boat, stretching forth his hand as if 
to take the box which Bob was holding out to him. 
But suddenly he was dumfounded to see, shining 
from King’s hand, the barrel of a revolver. 

‘‘Now, young fellow, we are desperate men and 
want no fooling. Just hand over that cell y6u are 
using to run that boat, and be mighty quick about it, 
too.” 


48 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Why — why — ^what do you mean?’’ stammered 
Bob, for he was so amazed at the turn affairs had 
taken that he could hardly speak. 

“Quick, now, or we’ll throw you all into the lake.” 

“Oh, Bob,” whispered Edna, “let them have it or 
they’ll kill us.” 

By this time Bob had partially recovered his 
senses, and his quick brain was trying to figure a 
way out of the difficulty, for he did not intend to 
give up the cell if he could help it. Fortunately, 
however, the problem was solved for him in a very 
unexpected manner. The stern of the rowboat was 
directly opposite the stern of the Sprite where Jack 
was sitting. The latter, quickly taking in the situ- 
ation, rose to his feet, and suddenly giving a spring, 
landed, with his full weight, on the stern of the light 
rowboat. Under his one-hundred sixty pounds, the 
boat gave a heavy lurch and in a second King had 
lost his balance and fallen over backwards into the 
lake. Both girls screamed and Jack shouted as he 
scrambled back on board the larger boat. “Full 
speed ahead. Bob.” 

When the rowboat lurched, Reed lost his hold 
and before he could recover it, the Sprite was dart- 
ing up the lake, while a string of oaths from the row- 
boat followed them. 

“My, but that was great work. Jack, old fellow,” 
exclaimed Bob. I don’t know how we would have 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 49^ 


saved the cell if you hadn’t tipped that fellow out of 
the boat. How’d you happen to think of it?” 

‘‘Didn’t think of it at all,” chuckled Jack, “Just 
did it without thinking.” 

“Well,” spoke up May, “it saved us and it was a 
mighty brave thing to do.” 

“Now, turn off the soft soap spigot,” ordered 
Jack, and they all laughed. 

They soon reached the wharf, and, running up to 
the house, told Mr. Golden what had happened. 

“This is serious, indeed,” he declared, taking up* 
the phone. He soon had the manager of the hotel 
on the wire, telling him of the hold-up. The man- 
ager, in turn, said that two men, calling themselves 
King and Reed had been stopping there for about 
a week and had started off for a row about eight 
o’clock that evening. He promised to have them 
arrested at once if they returned, but doubted very 
much if they would show up again. He suggested 
that Mr. Golden call up the police of Skowhegan 
and Madison and ask them to be on the lookout for 
them. This he did, describing the two men as well 
as he could from the boys’ description, and the po- 
lice promised to be on the watch. But although the 
country round about was well searched, no clue to 
them was found, but the rowboat was picked up the; 
next morning near the foot of the lake. 


so 


i?HE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER VIL 

BOB DISAPPEARS. 

‘Tt^s your turn to get a pail of water, Bob.” 

‘‘All right, just let me finish this chapter.” 

It was a couple of days after the events related 
in the last chapter. All the family were on the 
porch except Bob, who was inside reading. The 
drinking water, used by the Goldens, was brought 
from a spring, about fifty rods back of the house 
in the woods. The house was supplied with water 
from a deep well, but all liked the spring water 
much better for drinking, so the boys took turns 
going after it. 

Bob noticed that it was nearly ten o’clock when 
he closed his book, took his electric torch and get- 
ting a pail from the kitchen, started for the spring. 
The night was pitch dark, as it was cloudy and there 
was no moon, but the torch lit up the path in front 
of him so that he had no trouble in following it. 
As he reached the spring, he thought he heard a 
slight rustling in the bushes, but beyond thinking, 
■“Guess that’s a rabbit,” he paid no attention to it. 


a:nd theik :new electric cell si 


He was bending over the spring to fill his pail, when 
suddenly he was grabbed from behind, jerked over 
backwards and, before he could cry out, a hand was 
placed over his mouth and he felt himself held to 
the ground by two men. 

‘'Not a sound, if you value your life,” hissed one 
of them, and then a gag was thrust into his mouth 
and he was rudely turned over on his stomach. 

"Quick, Bill, hand me those ropes,” whispered 
one of the men, and in another minute his hands 
were securely bound behind his back. 

"Now let's get him out to the road as soon as we 
can,” said the man who had done all the talking, 
and whose voice Bob recognized as belonging to the 
man he knew as King. 

He was roughly pulled to his feet, and with King 
clinging to his right and the other, whom Bob sup- 
posed to be Reed, hanging tightly to his left arm, 
they started for the road, about a half mile distant. 
The path was very rough, and as they flashed their 
light but seldom, it was some time before they 
reached the road. As they climbed the last fence. 
Bob could see dimly a large car standing by the 
roadside. Taking a large handkerchief from his 
pocket. King bound it tightly over Bob's eyes and 
ordered him to get into the back seat of the car. 
Poor Bob had to do as he was ordered, and was 
quickly followed by King, while the other man took 
the wheel. 


52 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Now, hit her up, Bill,” whispered King, and the 
car bounded ahead. 

“It seems to me that Bob’s an awful long time 
getting that pail of water,” said Edna, getting out 
of the hammock. “I wish he’d hurry up. I’m nearly 
choked for a drink.” 

“Same here,” declared Jack. “He’s been gone 
long enough to get a dozen pails. Guess I’ll go 
meet him and hustle him up a bit.” 

So saying, he got his electric torch from the house, 
and started off along the path. He was somewhat 
surprised not to meet Bob, or to hear his merry 
whistle, but was not alarmed till he reached the 
spring and, flashing his light around, spied the pail, 
lying on its side a few feet way. “Well, that’s 
funny,” he thought, and putting two fingers in his 
mouth, he gave two long shrill whistles, their sig- 
nal to each other. Receiving no reply, he made a 
hurried search*of the bushes nearby, but beyond no- 
ticing evidence of a struggle, he found no trace of 
the missing boy. 

“Something has happened to Bob,” he thought, 
now thoroughly alarmed. “There’s been a fight 
here and I’ll bet a fish hook that he’s been kid- 
napped.” In spite of the darkness. Jack nearly flew 
back to the cottage. 

“Dad, dad,” he shouted, as he bounded on to the 
porch, “they’ve got Bob.” 

“Who’s got Bob? What do you mean?” asked 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 53 


Mr. Golden from upstairs, where he was getting 
ready for bed. 

don’t know who’s got him,” cried excited Jack, 
*'but there’s been some kind of a fight at the spring, 
and he’s gone.” 

‘Tt’s impossible,” declared Mr. Golden, who by 
this time had come down into the living room, where 
the family had gathered. ‘There’s no one round 
here w^ho would kidnap him.” 

“How about those men who held us up on the lake 
the other night ?” asked May. 

“By gracious, that’s so,” said Mr. Golden. “Why 
didn’t I think of them before? Give me the phone, 
quick.” 

As quickly as possible he called up the police of 
all the towns nearby, and told them what had hap- 
pened. They all promised to be on the watch and 
to do all they could to catch the kidnappers. 

“That ought to get them,” he declared, as he 
hung up the receiver. “Bob’s been gone only about 
an hour, and they can’t have taken him very far 
yet.” 

“Oh dear. Oh dear! Do you suppose they will 
harm him ?” sobbed Mrs. Golden. 

“No, my dear,” assured her husband, trying to 
calm her, “I don’t think they will dare to hurt him. 
',If it is those two men who have him they will try 
to make him disclose the secret of the cell, for that’s 
undoubtedly what they are after.” 


54 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


No one in the house thought of going to bed, but 
sat around eagerly listening for the ring of the 
phone. Suddenly, at eleven-fifteen, it rang and Mr. 
Golden eagerly grabbed up the receiver. 

'Ts this Mr. Golden?” came the voice over the 
wire. 

“Yes, yes,” he replied eagerly, “Who is talking?” 

“This is Switzer.” 

“Oh, yes, Mr. Switzer. Any news?” 

“Nothing much, but Joe has just come in and 
says that a big car just went over the bridge at 
about forty miles an hour. He shouted to them to 
stop, but they paid no attention, except to turn on 
more speed, and they were going so fast that he 
couldn't stop them nor get their number. But he’s 
started off in his car and is going to try to follow 
’em, but Tm afraid it’s not much use.” 

Switzer was chief of police of Skowhegan. 

“Well, let me know at once if you hear any- 
thing,” said Mr. Golden as he hung up the receiver. 
Then he told the rest what he had heard, adding, 
“There’s no telling which way they are heading, 
even if it were they, which, of course, is not at all 
sure.” 

The hours dragged slowly on. From time to 
time the phone rang, but it was always the same; 
no other clue had been found. 

“If he is not found by eight o’clock,” said Mr. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 55 


Golden, ‘T shall telegraph to Boston for a detec- 
tive.” 

Meanwhile, what of the missing Doy? The car, 
into which he had been thrust, started off at high 
speed, and although he tried his best to keep track 
of its direction, it was impossible, and in less than 
ten minutes he had lost all idea as to which way 
they were going. He was unable to speak, owing 
to the gag in his mouth, and not a word was ut- 
tered by either of the men as the car rushed on 
through the night. They had been traveling for, 
what seemed to Bob, nearly two hours, and his 
bonds were cutting his wrists cruelly, when sud- 
denly the car slowed up and the character of the 
road changed. From its roughness and the slow 
pace at which they were now moving he judged that 
they must be passing over a woods road. After 
proceeding in this manner for perhaps twenty min- 
utes, the car stopped and for the first time, the man 
at the wheel spoke. 

“Well, here we are.” 

It was Reed’s voice sure enough. 

King immediately got out and ordered Bob to 
follow him. “You put the car up, Bill,” he said, 
“and I’ll escort our guest into the house.” 

So saying, he took Bob by the arm and led him 
forward. 

“Now, step up,” he ordered; and a moment later 
he announced, “Now we’re going upstairs.” 


56 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


As soon as they reached the top. King led him a 
few steps and then said: 

“Now well have a light and then I’ll take off your 
blinders.” 

He lit a small lamp, and then, to Bob’s great re- 
lief, removed the gag and blindfold. Bob looked 
about him and saw that he was in a small bare room 
containing only a cot and a small table. 

“Say,” he asked, “what’s the meaning of all this, 
anyway ?” 

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,” 
answered King. “You’ll know all about it in good 
time.” 

“Well, just untie this rope, will you? It’s cut- 
ting into my wrists like the dickens.” 

“All right, but mind, now, no funny business. I’ve 
got a grudge against you for tipping me into the 
lake the other night, and if you get gay you’ll get 
hurt, that’s all.” 

He at once untied the rope which bound Bob’s 
hands and Bob began to pound them together, for so 
tightly had they been bound, that they were almost 
numb. 

“Now you can lie down on that cot and get some 
sleep if you want to, I’m going to bed downstairs.” 

“Won’t you tell me why you have brought me 
here?” 

“Not tonight, I won’t tell you anything,” was the 
gruff reply. 


AXD THEIR yEW ELECTRIC CELL 57 


So saying. King picked up the light and left the 
room, and Bob heard him lock the door behind him 
with a key and also shoot a bolt. He had noticed 
a single window near the foot of the cot and groped 
his way toward it. It was unlocked, but on raising 
it, he found that it was protected by heavy iron bars, 
not more than three inches apart. 

“Well,” he thought, “here’s a go for sure. Kid- 
napped in Maine in the twentieth century. Now 
wouldn’t that jar you?” However, dark as the 
prospect seemed, Bob was a brave boy and by no 
means lost heart. 

“Gee, but the folks will be worried to death about 
me,” he thought as he sat down on the cot. “Ill 
bet mother is crying her eyes out. Well,” he said 
to himself a moment later, “guess I might as well 
lie down and try to get some sleep, for I’ll be likely 
to need all my strength before I get through with 
this mess.” So sa\dng, he threw himself back on 
the cot, which, he foimd, made a by no means un- 
comfortable bed. “If they think they are going to 
make me tell them about that cell, they’ve got an- 
other think coming,” he thought, just before he fell 
into a deep sleep. 

The sun was streaming in through the window 
when Bob awoke, and for a moment, he could not 
think where he was, then suddenly the events of the 
night before came back to him, and jumping up, 
he hastily stenoed to the window. He could see 


58 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


nothing, however, but a dense forest. At this mo- 
ment he heard the bolt shot back and the key turned 
in the lock. A moment later, Reed entered the 
room, carrying an old tin waiter on which were a 
cup of coffee, some sandwiches and a couple of eggs. 

‘‘Well,'' thought Bob, “they don't intend to starve 
me at any rate.” 

“Here's your breakfast, kid,” announced Reed. 

The thought came into Bob's mind that he might 
overpower the man and make a sudden dash for 
liberty, but just then he heard King below, and 
realizing that he would be but a child in the hands 
of so powerful a man, he quickly gave up the idea. 
Laying the tray on the table, Reed at once left the 
room, locking the door behind him. Bob lost no 
time in falling to, for he was very hungry, and 
soon every crumb had vanished. In a little more 
than half an hour, he heard steps on the stairs, and 
both men came in, locking the door after them. 

“Now, kid,” said King. “I'm going to tell you 
what we want with you. We've got you here a 
good ways from nowhere and you can’t get away, 
and what's more, no one can find you here either. 
There isn't a road or a house anywhere near, so you 
can yell all you blamed please for all the good it 
will do you. Probably you can guess what we 
want. We happen to know that you have got on 
to a new kind of a storage battery and we mean to 
have it. Now, you tell us how it is made and as 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 59 


soon as vve can send word to Boston, to our labora- 
tory, and find out that you are telling the truth, 
we’ll let you go. On the other hand, if you are 
stubborn, and refuse, you’ll stay here and get all 
that’s coming to you. We’re desperate men and 
we’re going to have it, so you might as well give 
in at once.” 

While he had been talking. Bob had been think- 
ing rapidly. That they meant to do as they said, 
he had not the least doubt, but he didn’t intend to 
give in unless he found it necessary to save his life. 
‘‘Let me have a few hours to think it over, will 
you ?” 

“I’ll give you till three o’clock, but don’t think 
you can escape, for you can’t. Even if you drd 
get out, we have two of the ugliest dogs you ever 
saw watching below, and they’d tear you to pieces 
in a jiffy. Come on. Bill, we’ll leave him awhile, 
but say, sonny,” he added, turning to Bob once 
more, “we don’t want to hurt you and you’d better 
give in and save trouble.” 

“I’ll think it over/’ was Bob’s reply as they went 

out. 


60 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER VIIL 

BOB ESCAPES ALMOST 

About noon Reed came up bringing Bob’s din- 
ner, consisting of potatoes, trout, evidently caught 
nearby, and a glass of milk. ‘‘You better make the 
best of this,” he said, “I’ll tell you now that you 
won’t get another bite to eat till you tell us what 
we want to know.” 

Bob gave a sudden start. “So, that’s your game, 
is it?” he asked. 

“Yes, that’s our game, and as you look like a 
pretty good feeder, I guess it won’t take long.” 

“Perhaps not,” said Bob, as Reed left. 

Poor Bob ! He ate up every crumb of his din- 
ner. The prospect was dark enough, to say the 
least, but he had not lost heart, for an idea had oc- 
curred to him which he intended to put into prac- 
tice that night. As there was nothing else to do he 
spent the time lying on the cot thinking. About 
three o’clock. King looked in. 

“Ready to tell us?” he asked. 

“Not yet,” was Bob’s reply. 

“All right, just as you say. I suppose the old 


AND THEIE NEW ELECTRIC CELL 61 


saying, that you can lead a horse to water but you 
can’t make him drink, holds in your case, but if 
this horse don’t drink pretty soon, he’ll wish he’d 
never been born.” Then, after a moment’s pause, 
he continued, in a kinder tone: ‘‘Come now, boy, 
what’s the use? We’ve got all the trump in this 
game and you’ve got to give in sooner or later, so 
why not do it now and save yourself trouble?” 

“You seem to be on top just at present, for a 
fact,” agreed Bob, “but just the same I’m not going 
to give in just now.” King muttered something 
about him soon wishing he had and left the room. 

That night he got no supper. Now, going with' 
out his meals did not, in the least, agree with Bob’s 
disposition, at any time, and now he had much more 
than hunger to rouse his anger, and by eleven 
o’clock, he was, as he put it to himself, fighting mad. 

“I haven’t heard any dogs and I don’t believe 
they’ve got any,” he thought. “Anyhow, I’m going 
to run the risk if I can get through that door.” 
Fortunately, he had not been searched and as he 
had a good strong jacknife, it had occur ed to him 
that he might cut a hole in the door large enough 
to get his hand through. He waited till one o’clock, 
and then began his attack. It was pretty hard cut- 
ting, as it was spruce, but he kept steadily at it and 
in about an hour had a small hole through, and an- 
other half hour of hard cutting enabled him to en- 


62 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


large it sufficiently to pass his hand through, turn 
the key and slip back the bolt. ‘‘Now for it, he 
thought. “If theyVe got a dog I’ll give him the 
fight of his life.” 

Cautiously, he crept down the stairs, which 
creaked a little in spite of his efforts, holding the 
open knife in his hand. He finally reached the bot- 
tom without any mishap and, so far as he could tell, 
without being heard. Unlocking the door, he 
stepped softly out on the porch. It was a beautiful 
starlight night and, although there was no moon, 
it did not seem very dark. Bob was just beginning 
to feel easier, when he heard a low growl and, look- 
ing round, he saw a huge mastif eyeing him a few 
feet away. “Good dog,” he whispered, thinking 
he might make friends with him, but the brute con- 
tinued to growl and slowly crept nearer. 

Bob saw that he was about to spring and braced 
himself for the attack. As the dog jumped, the boy 
drew back his right foot, and with a powerful kick 
caught him fairly in the stomach. With a low 
whine of pain, the dog fell back and without giving 
him time to recover, Bob sprang forward and, seiz- 
ing him by the throat, plunged the knife blade to 
the handle in his side. The dog gave one howl and 
stiffened out. 

“One enemy the less,” thought Bob as he rose to 
his feet, but he was not to get off so easily, for 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 63 


just then the door opened and Reed stepped out. 

'Thunder and lightning/' he gasped, "How’d 
you get out." 

Bob did not stop to explain, but jumping off the 
porch and started on a run down the path. 

"Quick, Jim, he’s getting away," shouted Reed, 
as he started after the escaping boy. 

Bob was a fast runner, but he was sadly handi- 
capped by not knowing which way to go in the 
darkness, and the path was rough. Still, he might 
have escaped had he not met with a mishap. He 
had not gone more than a hundred! yards, when his 
foot caught in a vine, and he fell forward on his 
face, his knife flying from his hand. Before he 
could pick himself up and start again, Reed was 
upon him. Bob did not intend to submit to cap- 
ture a second time if he could help it, and, as he 
was caught round the body, he gave a sudden 
squirm, which broke Reed’s hold, instantly drawing 
back his right arm, he struck out with all his 
strength. The blow was a heavy one, and caught 
Reed fairly on the nose, making him grunt with 
pain. It did not, however, put him out of the fight, 
and before Bob could turn and run, he felt a stinging 
blow on the ear, which dazed him for a second. He 
quickly recovered, and grabbing Reed, tried his best 
to force him to the ground. 

Although a small man, he was no means weak. 


64 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


and the struggle waged fast and furiously. Finally, 
Bob succeeded in getting a half nelson round his 
neck, and the next instant Reed felt himself hurled 
to the ground, which he struck with tremendous 
force. All the fight was knocked out of him, and 
once more Bob started to run, but alas for his hopes, 
he was too late, for just then King appeared on the 
scene. 

Bob was so nearly exhausted by this time, that he 
could make but little headway, and soon King 
grabbed him round the neck and bore him to the 
ground. He realized that it would be useless to 
struggle against this man, for he was almost a giant 
in strength. 

'‘So you thought you’d give us the slip, did you ? 
Well, you’re a slick one, that’s a fact, and you’re no 
coward either, but really we can’t dispense with 
3^our company yet awhile,” said the man as he 
dragged Bob to his feet. 

By this time Reed had managed to get on his 

feet. ‘‘D the brat,” he growled,” he’s strong 

as a moose. My nose is bleeding like a stuck pig, 
and it feels as though half my bones were broken.” 

“Well, Bill, we can’t blame the kid for trying to 
get away, but it beats me how he got out of that 
room, and, say, what was that dog doing? Guess 
he’s no good.” 

“I don’t think he is much good any more,” Bob 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELC 65 


couldn’t help saying. ‘'You’ll find him on the 
porch.” 

“If you’ve killed that dog, I’ll take it out of your 
hide,” growled Reed. 

“Easy there. Bill,” admonished King, “I won’t 
have the kid ill-treated for trying to get away and 
defending himself, and, if he had to kill the dog to 
do it, he had a right to. I admire bravery wherever 
I see it, but we’ll fix things after this so that he 
won’t have a chance to show his spunk to such good 
advantage.” 

While talking, the two men had been leading 
Bob back to the house. Seeing the dog on the 
porch, Reed turned him over; “Well he’s done for 
all right, confound him. I wouldn’t have taken one 
hundred dollars for that dog,” he said. 

“Come on now,” urged King, “We’ll see to him 
in the morning. I want to find out how this kid 
got out of that room.” 

Reaching the top of the stairs and holding up the 
lantern, which he had grabbed up from the porch, 
the method was plainly apparent. 

“Well I’ll be switched,” said King. “Bill we 
ought to be ashamed of ourselves not to have 
searched him. I never thought of him having a 
knife that he could cut through that door with. You 
go down and get a board and some nails, and we’ll 
soon have this fixed.” 


QC) THE GOLDEN BOYS 

The hole was boarded over, plenty of nails being 
used, and as he drove the last one. King said, ‘‘Now 
I'll look him over and see if he has anything else 
he can use.” 

Bob knew it would be useless to resist, and so 
allowed himself to be searched, but nothing was 
found which they considered dangerous. 

“I guess. Bill, one of us had better stay up the 
rest of the night,” said King, as he finished his 
search. “I don't see how he could get away again, 
but we won't take any chances.” 

As they were about to leave the room. Bob asked, 
“Can't you give me something to eat? I'm awfully 
hungry.” 

“Sure thing,” replied King. “There’s a fine mess 
of trout downstairs, which Bill caught this after- 
noon, and I can boil some potatoes in no time. You 
jjust tell us what we want to know, and I'll have you 
a fine meal in less than half an hour.” 

But Bob was not yet ready to give up. “Never 
mind,” he said, “I guess I'm not so hungry as I 
thought I was.” 

They went out and he heard them go down the 
stairs. Throwing himself on the cot he groaned, 
“Oh dear, to come so near to getting away and then 
fail. But,” he thought, “I did my best, and I’ll 
bet Reed’s nose will be sore for a few days. If 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 67 


that blow had only caught him on the chin, I might 
have made it before King got there.’’ 

He lay for a long time thinking how he could 
foil his captors. Suddenly, he sprang up. “Why 
not?” he said to himself. “It may work if I can 
carry through the bluff. Anyhow, it’ll be better 
than starving here, and I’m going to try it.” 

Having decided on a line of action, he once more 
threw himself on the cot and was soon asleep. 

No one came near him till nearly ten o’clock that 
morning, and by that time, Bob felt, as he expressed 
it, as though the bottom of his stomach had fallen 
out. 

“How goes it?” was King’s greeting, as he en- 
tered the room, “Getting pretty hungry ?” 

“Hungry !” growled Bob, “If you don’t look out 
I may eat you up.” 

King laughed, “What’s the use of sticking it out 
any longer?” he asked. “You’ve got to give in or 
starve.” 

“I’m beginning to think that’s so,” replied Bob, 
“ I did intend to stick it out, but I’m too hungry.” 

“That’s the way to talk. Now you tell me all 
about it, and then I’ll bring you up a good dinner. 
But mind now,” he added, “if you don’t tell it 
straight, ifll— ni, well, your folks will never have 
the pleasure of seeing you again, that’s all.” 

“Well now, see here,” began Bob, “I can’t tell 


68 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


you how to make that cell so that you could do it/^ 

‘‘Can’t? Why not?” demanded King. 

“Because,” continued Bob, “the success of it de- 
pends on the temperature at which the metals com- 
posing the caps are put together, and that point can 
be determined only by the looks of them, and I 
couldn’t possibly describe it so that any one could 
detect the right point.” 

“Then how are you going to work it?” 

“Why, didn’t you say that you have a laboratory 
in Boston ?” 

“Yes, but what of it?” 

“Well, why not take me there and let me make it 
for you?” 

King thought a moment and then said, “I don’t 
altogether like that idea, but I’ll talk it over with 
Bill and see what he says.” 

As he was leaving the room. Bob added, “That’s 
the best I can do. If I should tell you about it, and 
then you failed, you would blame me, and I’d have 
to suffer for it.” 

King was gone about half an hour, and when he 
returned, he brought a good dinner with him. 

“We’ve decided to take you up, and here’s your 
dinner,” he said. “But now listen to me. My future 
depends on this thing; how, is none of your busi- 
ness, but I’d rather die than fail, so if you try any 
funny business, you can know what to expect.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 69 


‘‘How soon shall we start?’' asked Bob. 

“We shall start, in the car, as soon as it is dark.” 

“I don’t know,” thought Bob, after King had left 
the room, “whether I’m jumping out of the frying 
pan into the fire or not, but that dinner looks mighty 
good to me, so here goes.” 


70 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER IX. 

ON THE ROAD TO BOSTON 

‘Well, the die is cast one way or the other,” 
thought Bob, as he ate the last scrap of his dinner; 
“that sure did taste good.” Then as a sudden 
thought struck him, he began hurriedly to search his 
pockets. As good luck would have it, he found a 
small note book, containing several blank leaves and 
a stub of a lead pencil. Hastily, he tore out a page 
and wrote the following note : 

“I am confined in a house in the woods, have no 
idea where, but it must be within twenty or thirty 
miles of Skowhegan. King and Reed are taking 
me to Boston tonight, in a car. Secret still safe.” 

Bob Golden. 

Folding the paper, he wrote on the outside, “Will 
the finder of this paper please send it to Mr. Golden, 
Skowhegan ?” He made several copies of the note, 
thinking as he did so, “If I can only get a chance 
to throw these out of the car, one of them, at least, 
may get to father. I don’t know as it will do me 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 71 


riiuch good, but it will let the folks know that Fm 
still alive/' 

Supper was brought to him at five o’clock, and at 
seven, King came up to tell him that they were about 
to start. “Now, see here, boy,” he said, “we don’t 
want to be any harder on you than we can help, and 
if you give me your word that you won’t try to get 
away, or make any trouble, we won’t tie you.” 

Bob thought he might as well promise as he knew 
they would make it impossible for him to escape if 
he did not, and he dreaded being tied, so he gave 
his word. 

“All right then,” said King, “but mind now, that 
you keep it, because if you make any trouble. I’ll 
have to tie you up and gag you.” 

“Are we going all the way tonight?’^ 

King laughed. “I guess not; if we drove too fast, 
it would excite suspicion, and we’d have to drive like 
the dickens to make it in one night. No, we’ll make 
Portland by daylight and lie low there till dark. But 
come on, now; there’s Bill with the car. I shall 
have to blindfold you for awhile, for I suppose you 
are pretty well acquainted round here and I don’t 
intend to let you know where this place is.” 

He took a large handkerchief from his pocket as 
he spoke and tied it tightly over Bob’s eyes. 

“Now mind, you don’t take that off till I give 


72 THE GOLDEN BOYS 

you permission,” he ordered, as he led him from the 
room and down the stairs. 

As they came out on the porch, Bob could hear 
a powerful car purring close at hand. He and King 
got into the rear seat. 

“Have you got the suitcases and the rest of the 
stuff. Bill?’’ asked King. 

“Yes, they’re all in back there.” 

“All right, then, let her go.” 

Darkness was just falling as they started, and at 
first, their pace was very slow, as the road was too 
rough for any but the very slowest speed, at which 
a car could be run. In about twenty minutes, they 
came to the end of the woods road and the car 
turned into a much smoother highway, and Reed 
sent her forward at a lively clip. 

“Now, kid, you get down on the bottom of the 
car till it gets a little darker,” ordered King, and 
Bob had to obey. 

They continued in this way for half an hour or 
a little more, when King said, “I guess it’s dark 
enough now; you can get up on the seat again, and 
I’ll take that rag off.” As soon as this was done. 
Bob strained his eyes to see if he could tell where 
they were, but it was too dark to see much, and he 
was unable to so much as guess their location for 
some time. In about an hour, however, they passed 
a large house, which stood very near the road, and 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 73 


he at once recognized it as being but a few miles 
from Oakland. He was well acquainted with the 
road, as he had several times driven his father's car 
to Boston. 

Reed was running at about twenty miles an hour 
most of the time, and instead of passing through the 
towns, he choose roads, for the most part, which 
led around them. They lost considerable time in 
this way, but Bob figured that they would probably 
get to Portland before daybreak. 

About one o'clock, they were passing over a par- 
ticularly rough piece of road, when, bang, went one 
of the rear tires. “Hang it all, there's a blowout," 
growled Reed, bringing the car to a stop. “But it 
won't take long to slip on the extra rim." 

While they were waiting, Bob noticed that King 
did not watch him quite as closely as he had been 
doing, and he managed to slip his hand into his 
pocket and take out one of the notes he had written. 
In less than fifteen minutes, Reed announced that the 
job was finished, and just as they were about to 
start. Bob, carelessly hanging his hand over the 
edge of the car, let the note fall to the ground, un- 
noticed by either of the men. Nothing more 
worthy of note happened, except that he managed 
to drop a second note as they passed through the 
little town of Brunswick, and at about half past 
four, just as the dawn was beginning to light up 


74 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


the East, Reed drove the car into the yard of a 
house standing well back from the road. 

‘‘Here we are,’’ he announced, and King at once 
gave a peculiar whistle, which was soon answered 
by the raising of a window on the second floor. 

“Hello, Frank, is that you?” asked King. 

“Yes,” was the answer. “What do you want?” 

“Come down here, and we’ll tell you,” answered 
King, and the window was at once shut. In a few 
moments, they were joined by a short man, about 
forty years old, who Reed greeted as Frank, shak- 
ing his hand cordially. 

“We’re on our way to Boston, and we’ve got a 
young fellow here, who don’t like our company any 
too well,” explained King with a slight laugh, “and 
we want you to put us up till night, as it isn’t good 
for our complexions to travel in the daytime. No 
one here, is there ?” 

“No, it’s all right. Just drive the machine into 
the barn and come in. I’ll have breakfast ready in 
a few minutes, and then you can turn in. Been rid- 
ing all night, hain’t ye?” 

“Yes, and I guess we can do a little something 
in both the eating and sleeping line,” answered 
King. “We haven’t had any eats since we started.” 

They had a fairly good meal, after which the man 
called Frank said, “You and the kid can go up in 
the south room, on the third floor, you know which 


AND THEIE NEW ELECTRIC CELL 75 


one, and Bill can sleep on the lounge in the parlor.” 

"‘All right,’" replied King, “Come on, kid.” 

The room which they entered was small, and con- 
tained but a single bed. It was lighted by two 
small windows, about eight inches square, placed 
nearly six feet from the floor. 

“I guess you’ll be safe here with me,” dWlared 
King, as he locked the door, and put the key in his 
pocket. “I’m a very light sleeper, and I told Frank 
to keep his eyes peeled, so you’d better not try to 
get away.” 

As Bob made no reply. King, removing only his 
coat, threw himself on the bed, telling Bob to do 
the same. As the boy was very sleepy, and some- 
what tired from his long ride, he was not long in 
obeying. Although he did not feel that he was 
bound by his promise, while they were there, he 
realized that the chances of escape were so small, 
that it would be foolish to make the attempt, and 
deciding to await a more favorable opportunity, he 
was soon fast asleep. 

When he awoke, it was nearly three o’clock, and 
he was alone in the room. Jumping up, he tried 
the door, but, as he expected, it was locked. “Gee, 
but this sort of thing is getting on my nerves,” he 
thought. “When we get to Boston, I’m going to do 
something desperate, if I have to, to get away.” 

He could hear some one moving about, on the 


76 


THE GULHEIv BOYS 


lower floor, from time to time, but no one came near 
him till nearly six o’clock, when King came up and 
told him to come down to supper. After the meal, 
they waited till it was fairly dark, and then started 
off again. Nothing of importance happened during 
the trip, and Bob found chances to drop two more 
notes as they passed through small towns. 

About three o’clock, they reached the outskirts 
of Boston, and King said, '‘Now I shall have to 
blindfold you again, and you will have to lie down 
on the bottom of the car.” 

"What for?” 

"Never you mind what for,” replied King, and 
then added, "You don’t suppose I’m fool enough 
to let you see where we’re going, do you ?” 

Bob was forced to obey, but fortunately, for his 
position was far from comfortable, they were not 
far from their destination, and in less than a half 
hour the car stopped. 

"We’re here at last,” announced King, as he 
opened the door of the car, and taking Bob by the 
arm, led him up some steps into a house. Once in- 
side, the blindfold was removed, and Bob saw that 
he was in, what appeared to be, a fairly good-sized, 
but poorly furnished house. The opening of the 
door had evidently aroused some one, for the sairs 
creaked, and glancing up. Bob saw a very small 
man, with a huge hump on his back, coming down. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 77 


‘‘Well, Nip, how’s things?” asked King. 

“All O. K., sir,” replied the hump-back, “but I 
didn’t expect you back so soon.” 

“No,” I suppose not, but we’re here and mighty 
hungry. Can’t you give us a cold bite, quick?” 

“I guess I can find something. You wait here 
a minute,” and the hump-back went toward the rear 
of the house. 

“We’ll go in here and sit down till he’s ready,” 
said King, motioning Bob to precede him, into what 
seemed to be a small sitting room. 

They had not waited more than ten minutes, when 
they heard from the rear room, “All right, sir,” and 
going through a long hall they entered a room, 
where they found a table set with a plain, but gen- 
erous lunch of cold meat, bread and butter and ap- 
ple pie. Bob did full justice to the meal and, as 
soon as they were through. King said, “Now we’ll 
go upstairs and get a little sleep, but I want to get 
to work as soon as we can.” 

He led Bob up some bare stairs, ushered him into 
a small room on the second floor and told him to 
make himself at home. 

“You’ll occupy this room while you’re our guest, 
and as it has been fitted up for just such guests as 
you, I hardly think you’ll leave till we get ready 
to let you go,” King laughed, as he left the room. 

The room was lighted by electric light, which 


78 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


King had turned on as they entered, and Bob pro- 
ceeded at once to take account of stock, as he ex- 
pressed it. The room contained only a bed and a 
single chair. It had but one window, and that was 
(heavily barred. On examining the door he was 
surprised to find that it was made of steel. 

‘T guess King was right when he said that guests 
in this room stayed till they were invited out,” he 
thought. ‘'Oh, well, I suppose I must get some 
sleep while I can, so here goes.” 

It seemed to Bob that he had hardly fallen 
asleep, when he was somewhat rudely shaken, and 
opened his eyes to find King standing by the bed. 

“Come,” he said, “it’s seven o’clock, and I want 
to show you the laboratory and get to work.” 

Bob rose sleepily and followed him downstairs. 
King led the way down to the basement, and into a 
large room. Bob needed but a glance to tell him 
that it was a fairly well-equipped laboratory. 

“Now, I w’ant you to take a careful look around, 
see what we’ve got that you can use, and then, make 
out a list of what else you want. I’ll get them this 
forenoon, and you can begin work right after din- 
ner. Oh, by the way, how long will it take you to 
do the job?” 

“Well,” replied Bob thoughtfully, “In my lab- 
oratory at home, I could probably make one in a 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 79 


week, but here, where I’m not used to things, it 
will probably take me ten days or more.” 

‘‘Ten fiddle sticks,” cried King angrily, “You’re 
trying to fool me. You’ve got to do it in much 
less time than that I can tell you.” 

Bob knew that he could probably make one of the 
cells in a couple of days at the outside, but he in- 
tended to take all the time he could, and watch for 
a chance to escape, so he said calmly, “All right, if 
you can do it in less time, you’d better do' it.” 

“Well, well, hurry and get your list made out,” 
demanded King testily. 

Bob walked around examining the laboratory and 
equipment for about a half hour and then asked 
for paper and pencil. They were quickly supplied, 
and sitting at a resk in one corner of the room, he 
soon handed King the following list: 

Two pounds of lead nitrate. 

One-half pound lead. 

One-half pound antimon. 

One-half pound copper. 

One-half pound tin. 

Ten or fifteen pounds of fine sand, suitable for 
making a mold. 

One copper cylinder, eight inches long by 1 and 
one-half inches in diameter. 

“How are you fixed for electroylysis ?” he asked, 
as he handed King the list. 


80 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Guess we can fix you up all right WeVe got 
a good storage battery and two or three glass tanks 
and considerable platinum. Now we’ll go up and 
see if breakfast is ready,” he said, putting the paper 
in his pocket. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 81 


CHAPTER X. 

THE DETECTIVE ARRIVES. 

father, isn’t there something we can do?”' 
asked Jack, for about the tenth time that day. It 
was about three o’clock in the afternoon of the day 
following Bob’s disappearance. They had waited 
in vain for any news of the lost boy and at about 
eight-thirty o’clock, Mr. Golden had got into com- 
munication, by telephone, with a well-known detec- 
tive agency in Boston and they had promised to 
have one of their best men there on the four-forty 
train. 

‘‘Yes, I guess we can do something now. We’ll 
run across in the Sprite, and catch the four o’clock 
trolley to town, which will get us there in time to 
meet that detective, Mr. Sharp.” 

Glad of anything which promised action. Jack 
grabbed his cap and started for the boathouse. It 
had been a terrible day to him, for he was lost 
without Bob, and the thought that he might never 
see him again nearly drove him frantic. He and his; 


82 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


father were soon in the Sprite speeding across the 
lake, and as they reached the wharf in front of the 
hotel, they saw Fred and Will Jenkins just getting 
into their boat. 

‘'Hello, Jack, heard anything from Bob yet?” 
asked Will. 

“No, not yet.” 

“Well, let us know when you do. So long.” 

Jack wasn’t sure, but it seemed to him that there 
was a half sneer to Will’s voice, and that both Fred 
and Will had an uneasy look about them. 

“Say, dad,” he asked after he had removed the 
cell from the motor and put it in his pocket, “did 
you notice anything strange about those fellows.” 

“Strange, what do you mean?” asked his father. 

“I hardly know, but somehow, I feel it in my 
bones, that they’ve had a hand in this business. 
Look here,” and reaching his hand into his back 
pocket, he pulled out a small knife which he handed 
to his father, saying, “I found that about thirty feet 
from the spring this forenoon. It is not rusted 
any to speak of, so it couldn’t have been there long.” 

“Do you know whose it is ?” asked his father. 

“I’m not sure,” replied Jack, “but I’ve seen Will 
Jenkins use a knife which looked a good deal like 
this one. I’d have asked him about it, only I didn’t 
think of it in time.” 

“You be sure and tell the detective about it,” said 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 83 


Mr. Golden. “Of course it doesn’t prove anything, 
as there are probably lots of knives just like it in 
town.” 

By this time they were on the car and in about 
thirty minutes they reached Skowhegan. As they 
passed down the street toward the station, they were 
stopped many times by friends, asking anxiously 
after Bob and by the time they reached the depot 
the train was whistling. As it drew in and came 
to a stop, a small man with a smooth face was the 
first to alight. There were not many passengers, 
and Mr. Golden knew most of them. The man 
who first got off, however, was a stranger, and he 
seemed to be looking for some one; Mr. Golden 
stepped up to him and asked if he was Mr. Sharp. 

“Right first time,” was the reply, ^'and you must 
be Mr. Golden.” 

Jack was then introduced, but he was much dis- 
appointed, for Mr. Sharp did not at all answer his 
idea of a detective. In common with most boys, 
he had always imagined a detective to be a very 
mysterious-looking person, while Mr. Sharp was 
indeed very ordinary in appearance. 

The trolley car was waiting only a couple of 
squares away for its return trip to the lake, and as 
soon as they obtained his suitcase from the baggage 
room, they started. 


84 : 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘We’ll be up in time for supper,” said Mr. Gol- 
den, as they boarded the car.” 

On the way up, Mr. Golden gave the detective 
an account of Bob’s disappearance, including the 
events which preceded it. As there were but few 
people on the car, they could talk in low tones with 
no danger of being overheard. The detective said 
but little, except to ask a question now and then, 
but when they were in the Sprite, on their way 
across the lake, he said: 

“Mr. Golden, I want you to give me a careful 
description of those two men.” 

“I guess Jack can do that better than I, as I only 
saw them once, and then took no particular notice 
of them.” 

So Jack described them as well as he could, but 
the detective shook his head. 

“Can’t place ’em. Your description of Reed 
would fit a dozen men I know, and while the other 
one puts me in mind of a fellow I once arrested for 
counterfeiting, I’m not sure. You didn’t notice a 
scar on his upper lip, did you?’^ 

“No, I thought I told you that he had a mus- 
tache.” 

“So you did, so you did,” said the detective, “I 
must be getting forgetful.” 

Supper was ready by the time they arrived at the 
cottage, and as soon as it was over, the detective 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 85 


asked to be shown the way to the spring, and once 
there, he made a thorough search of the immediate 
vicinity, but after nearly an hour had passed, he was 
forced to acknowledge that he had found no clue. 
As soon as they got ]?ack to the house, he called 
Boston on , the telephone. 

‘'Hello,. ^Bill? Yes. I want you to find out as 
quickly as possible the whereabouts of Jim Ed- 
wards. Yes, that’s the fellow. Call me as soon 
as you get any news.” He gave the number of the 
phone and then hung up. 

Early in the morning the phone rang, and Sharp 
was asked for. After a short conversation, he hung 
up the receiver, saying to Mr. Golden and Jack, who 
were in the room, “Nothing has been heard of that 
fellow Edwards since he got out of prison, nearly 
a year ago. Now, Jack, if you’ll run me across in 
your boat. I’ll go down to the village, and don’t be 
surprised if you don’t see me for a day or two.” 

“This is a mighty fine boat you have,” remarked 
Sharp, as they were skimming across the lake in the 
Sprite. “Is this the new cell ?” 

“Yes,” replied Jack, and then added bitterly, “I 
wish we’d never made the old thing, then Bob 
wouldn’t have been kidnapped.” 

“It’s wonderful to think of you boys making a 
discovery like that. Why, do you realize what a tre- 
mendous lot of money there is in it?” 


86 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“I suppose so, but I can’t bear to think of it 
now that Bob’s gone.” 

They soon reached the hotel wharf, and the de- 
tective, taking Jack by the hand, said, “Keep up 
your courage, my boy; I don’t think they will harm 
your brother, and sooner or later, we will be sure 
to find him.” So saying, he started off toward the 
trolley, while Jack pushed off and sadly headed the 
Sprite foi^ home. 

“Somehow, I don’t think much of that detective,” 
he thought, as he sped along. “He may be all 
right, and I suppose he is, but he hasn’t got enough 
snap in him to suit me.” 

Jack’s adverse opinion of Sharp was increased 
tenfold, when he returned the following night and 
reported that he had been unable to find a single 
clue. “By the way,” he said, “I tried to find those 
Jenkins boys to see if I could get anything out of 
them, but they left town on the early train yester- 
day, and no one seems to know where they have 
gone.” 

It was late the next afternoon. Sharp had gone 
off early in the morning, saying that he would prob- 
ably be back that night. Jack had spent the fore- 
noon on the lake with his mother and the girls, 
trying to cheer them up. Mrs. Golden was rapidly 
giving away under the strain, while Edna’s eyes 
were constantly red and swollen from crying. Mr. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL b7 


Golden had gone to his office that morning, but had 
returned on the twelve o’clock car, and they had 
met him at the wharf and taken him over in the 
Sprite. It was about four o’clock, and they were 
ull on the porch, talking as usual about the missing 
boy. 

“Say, dad, I don’t think much of that detective 
fellow,” Jack was saying, when the phone rang 
sharply, and he ran into the house to answer it. A 
moment later he shouted, “Dad, you’re wanted on 
the long distance.” Mr. Golden came in quickly and 
took the receiver. 

“Is this Mr. Golden of Skowhegan ?” came over 
the wire. 

“Yes.” 

“This is the police station at Brunswick. A boy 
has just come in here with a note, which he says 
he found in the street. It’s so covered with dirt, 
that it’s pretty hard to read, but listen and I’ll read 
what we’ve made out. Can you hear?” 

“Yes, yes, go ahead, I can hear all right.” 

The voice then read the note, which Bob had 
dropped the night before. As Bob had thought, it 
didn’t tell them much, but it let them know that he 
was alive and well, and that helped some and made 
them feel a little better. After Mr. Golden had fin- 
ished telling them what he had heard, Jack said 
nothing for some moments, but sat thinking deeply. 


88 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Suddenly, he looked up. “Dad,’^ he said, '‘I want 
you to let me go to Boston. Bob’s there, and I 
might be able to find him.” 

‘'Why, my dear boy, what could you do in Bos- 
ton. It is a big city,” spoke up Mrs. Golden, “and 
you don’t know where they have taken him. Be- 
sides,” she added sadly, “they might get you too.” 

“I guess I could look out for myself. Jerusa- 
lem, but I’ve got to do something. I’m tired of this 
sitting round waiting for some one else to do it all, 
and,” he added sadly, “this all don’t seem to amount 
to a hill of beans. What do you say, dad?” 

“Well, I hardly know what to say,” replied Mr. 
Golden. “We’ll wait till Mr. Sharp returns, and 
see if he has any news.” But, although they waited 
till nearly one o’clock, the detective did not come. 

They had all gone to bed but father and son. 
“Come, dad, say I may go,” pleaded Jack. 

“Well, I’m not at all sure it’s the wise thing, but 
something seems to tell me that I had better let you 
have your way.” 

“Hurrah !’' shouted Jack. “I’ll be off on the five 
o’clock train.” 

“No,” said his father, “you had better wait till a 
later train, and perhaps I’ll go with you, but I don’t 
want to go till Sharp returns, and now let’s go to 
bed.” 

Sharp did not return the next morning, and at 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 89 


breakfast, Mr. Golden said, “Jack, I guess you had 
better take the noon train. If Sharp doesn^t come 
with some news by that time, Fll wait and come 
later, if I think best.” 

The thought that at last he was going to do some- 
thing toward finding Bob filled Jack with joy, and 
by ten o’clock he was ready to start. He and Mr. 
Golden went across in the Sprite, after assuring his 
mother that he would be very careful and not get 
into trouble. 

“Now, my dear boy, be very careful and look out 
for yourself,” said Mr. Golden, as he bade him 
goodby. “Go to Uncle Ben’s tonight, and tomor- 
row, you had better go to the agency and have them 
detail a man to help you in your search,” and then 
he added sadly, “It’s like looking for a needle in 
a haystack, but if you don’t get into trouble, it won’t 
do any harm.” 

“Don’t worry about me,” assured Jack, “I’ll look 
out for myself and,” he added, “I’ll find Bob if I 
have to go through Boston with a fine tooth comb.” 

The Boston train pulled into the North station at 
eight o’clock, and as he was pretty hungry. Jack 
thought he would go into a restaurant just across 
the street, for supper, before going to his uncle’s, as 
he lived in Winthrop, a town about five miles from 
the city, across the harbor. As he left the station. 


DO 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


he caught sight of a man elbowing his way through 
the crowd, that made his heart thump. 

‘'On my soul, I believe that’s Reed,” he said half 
aloud, starting towards him. As he pushed for- 
ward he saw the man turn, and for an instant their 
eyes met, but the next moment the man had turned, 
and before Jack could get to him, he was lost in the 
crowd. He rushed about here and there, but to his 
dismay, he could not find him. 

‘'That was he, sure as guns,” he thought, “and 
I believe he recognized me.” 

He realized that his chances of finding him were 
virtually nil, and with a heavy heart, he entered the 
restaurant, and after a hasty supper, took a car for 
the ferry. 

It was a very dark night, and a drizzling rain 
was falling as he stepped on the ferryboat. There 
were not many people on board, and what few there 
were, at once went into the cabin to escape the rain. 
Jack, however, had on a raincoat and stood by the 
rail, watching the lights of the passing boats, and 
thinking what hard luck it was to find Reed so soon 
only to lose him again. The boat was about half- 
way across the harbor, ^ich is about a mile and a 
half wide, when Jack f^ himself seized from be- 
hind, and before he knew what had happened, he 
was hurling through the air into the dark water 
below. 


THEIR KEW ELECTRIC CELL 91 


CHAPTER XI. 

JACK IN TROUBLE. 

It seemed to Jack that he plunged down to a 
great depth, and when he finally rose to the surface, 
he was gasping for breath. His first thought was 
to free himself from his raincoat, and as soon as 
this was done, he struck out for the east side, as he 
thought he was a little more than half way across. 
Although a powerful swimmer, the choppy sea, 
caused by a brisk wind, and his clothing, which 
seemed to drag him down, made his progress dif- 
ficult. He weakened rapidly, and before he was half 
way to the shore, fear struck him that he might not 
be able to reach it. Raising himself as far out of 
the water as possible, he looked about him, but it 
was very dark, and he could see but a few feet. 
No help was at hand, and summoning all his 
strength, he started to swim once more toward the 
lights, which now seemed farther away than at first. 
But his strokes were now very weak and his prog- 
ress slow ; still he kept doggedly on, for he was not 


92 THE GOLDEN BOYS 

a boy to give up so long as a particle of strength 
remained. 

After what seemed to him hours of struggle, he 
felt that he could keep up but a few moments more, 
and a dread fear seized his heart as he gave up hope. 
He thought not so much of himself, but of the 
father and mother, who might never know what had 
happened to him, and the thought nerved him to one 
more last effort. 

‘It's no use," he thought, after taking a few fee- 
ble strokes, “I can't hold out any longer, I'm so 
tired." 

He tried, but his arms seemed numb and utterly 
refused to obey his will, and he was about to go 
under, when he felt himself seized by the collar and 
in another moment, found himself lying on his back 
on the bottom of a skiff, gasping for breath. 

As he slowly began to recover his strength, he 
looked up and saw that the boat contained two men, 
but he was unable to see their faces in the darkness. 

“Well, here's a rum go," he heard one of them 
say. 

“Right you are," replied the other. “That chap 
was about all in, I reckon. Lucky for him we came 
along when we did." 

“He'd sure gone down in another minute," de- 
clared the first speaker, “I’d never have seen him, 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 93 


it’s so tarnational dark, if I hadn’t happened to hit 
him wid the oar.” 

‘‘What’ll we do with him ?” asked the other. 

“Dnnno, guess we might’s well take him to the 
hole; might have something on him worth while,” 
was the answer. 

They evidently thought that the boy was uncon- 
scious, and, in fact, so nearly played out was he, 
that he was unable to speak. The man at the oars, 
began to row again and soon the light boat was go- 
ing at a lively pace, as they were rowing with the 
wind. Shortly, Jack became conscious that they 
were passing under a wharf, as the pace became 
slow, and occasionally the boat hit against the pil- 
ing. The continued in this way for perhaps ten 
minutes, and then he felt the bottom of the boat 
grate on the shore. 

“See if he’s come to, Jake,” whispered the man 
who had been rowing. 

His companion reached over and shook him 
roughly by the arm. 

“I’m very much obliged to you for pulling me 
out,” said Jack, weakly. “I sure thought it was all 
up with me.” 

“That’s all right,” said the man in a low voice. 
“Think ye can stand up?” 

“I don’t know, but I guess so. I’ll try.” 

Helped by the man, he succeeded in getting to his 


94 THE GOLDEN BOYS 

feet and crawled over the side of the boat to the 
ground. 

‘T’m pretty wobbly,” he gasped, “but I guess I’ll 
be all right in a few minutes.” 

“Here, Pete, you take hold of one arm and I’ll 
take the other, and I guess we’ll get him along all 
right.” 

Jack stumbled along between the two men, for 
what seemed a long ways, but which was in reality 
only a few rods. He was too tired to take much 
notice of his surroundings, but soon saw, by the 
light of a dark lantern, which one of the men car- 
ried, that they were passing between heavy piles. 
Soon they came to a stone wall and it seemed to 
Jack that they must be at the end of their journey, 
but as they came closer, the light of the lantern 
showed a small hole, just large enough for a man 
to creep through. 

“FlI go first,” said the man with the lantern, “then 
let the kid follow.” 

He reached through and set the lantern down on 
the other side, and by dint of much squeezing and 
grunting, managed to push himself through. 

“Now you go, kid,” ordered the other man. 

Jack was much smaller than the man who ha'd 
gone first and crawled through without much dif- 
ficulty, followed a moment later by the second man. 

“Now follow me, and mind you, keep close to the 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 95 


wall,” whispered the man who carried the lantern, 
“and don’t ye make any noise.” 

Jack began to fear that he had fallen into evil 
hands, but there was nothing for him to do but to 
obey and follow where they led. 

The light was turned off, and they crept along 
in the darkness, Jack keeping one hand against the 
wall for some distance, when the man who led 
whispered, “Now, ye wait here a minute.” Jack 
stopped, and in a minute heard the man give four 
raps on what sounded like a door. Almost instantly 
he heard a bolt shot back, and the next instant a 
door was flung open, letting out a flood of 
light. By its rays he could see that they were in 
a narrow passageway between two stone abutments. 

“What ye got there, Jake?” asked a woman’s 
voice. 

“Dunno,” was the somewhat surly reply. “Some 
kid we pulled out the harbor. Was about all in 
when we fished him out.” 

“Well, seems to me yer taking a mighty big risk 
fetching him in here,” said the woman somewhat 
sharply. 

“Now don’t ye go to butting in, old woman,” 
snapped the man. “I guess me and Pete knows 
what we’re about.” 

They had entered the room, and Jack tumbled 
into a chair, too tired to stand up. He looked about 


96 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


him and saw that he was in a small room with a 
low ceiling and dirty with what seemed the accum- 
ulation of years. The woman who had admitted 
them might have been anywhere between thirty 
and sixty years old, but so dirty and slack looking 
was she, that it was impossible to guess her age any 
nearer. He now got a good look, for the first 
time, at the men who had saved him, and saw that 
their appearance was wholly in keeping with their 
surroundings. The older of the two might have 
been sixty, while the younger was ten or fifteen 
years his junior. Both had hard rough faces, and 
his heart sank as he realized how completely he was 
in their power. 

'Well, boy, have ye got yer wind back yet?” 
asked the older man. 

'T guess so,” replied Jack, "but I still feel pretty 
weak. ^ 

"S’pose so,” grunted the man. "Now how'd ye 
get into the wet ?” 

"I was crossing on a ferryboat and some one 
came up behind me and pushed me over.” 

"Pshaw, ye don’t say so !” exclaimed the younger 
man. "Now what de ye suppose he did that for?” 

"I’m sure I don’t know,” replied Jack, and then 
as nothing more was said for a moment, he con- 
tinued, "I feel stronger now, and if you will kindly 
show me to the street, I think I’ll go, and,” he 


AND THEIK NEW ELECTRIC CELL 97 


added, taking a pocketbook from his inside coat 
pocket, “if you’ll take this ten-dollar bill for your 
trouble, I’ll still feel very thankful to you for sav- 
ing my life.” From the look on the faces of the two 
men, as they saw the pocketbook, he realized that 
he had made a grave mistake, but it was too late 
now. 

“Not so fast, sonny,” said the older man, ‘‘don’t 
ye think yer life is worth more than ten dollars? 
Anyhow, Pete,” he said, turning to the other man, 
“I reckon we can make mor’n that out of him, eh?” 

“Well, I’d hope so,” was the reply. 

“How much money ye got there, kid?” asked 
the man called Jake. 

“About one hundred dollars,” answered Jack, for 
he saw that they intended to have it, “and I’ll give 
it all to you if you’ll let me go now.” 

“What yer say, Pete?” asked Jake, but it was the 
woman who answered. 

“Don’t yer let him get away, Jake. Mebby his 
father’ll think his life’s worth a lot mor’n one hun- 
dred dollars.” 

“Good for ye, old woman, mebby we can work 
that gag.” Then, turning to Jack, he asked, “Who’s 
yer old man, boy ?” 

Jack hesitated a moment, and the man grabbed 
him roughly by the arm and said, “Speak up now, 
and no funny business, we’re not to be fooled with.” 


1)8 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Seeing that it would be useless to resist, he an- 
swered, “My father’s name is Golden, and he lives 
in Maine.” 

“Got any rocks?” eagerly asked the woman. 

“A little, I suppose.” 

“Huh,” she grunted, “I guess when a kid like 
you runs round with one hundred dollars, and car- 
rying a gold watch like this,” she added, taking it 
from his vest pocket, “his old man’s got plenty 
more.” 

“Well, what do you intend to do with me ?” asked 
Jack more boldly, for he was not easily scared, and, 
realizing that he was in the hands of a gang of 
harbor thieves, he had made up his mind to put on 
a bold front, trusting to his luck to get away. But 
no one answered him. 

“Where’s Jim and Joe?” suddenly asked^ Jake, 
turning to the woman. 

“Gone over to the city.” 

“When’ll they be back?” 

“Not much ’fore morning, likely. The boss sent 
for ’em; said that he had a job on hand that might 
take all night.” 

He then turned to Jack, “Hungry?” 

“No,” replied Jack, “I had supper, but I’d like 
to get these wet clothes off and lie down if you 
aren’t going to let me go.” 

“Well, I s’pose they do feel kinder oneasy. Say, 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 99 


Mag, take him upstairs and lock him in the middle 
room. He can take his duds off, and theyll dry- 
out by morning. I’m hungry’s a bear and want 
supper, quick.” 

“Seem’s if youVe always hungry,” she growled, 
as she motioned Jack to follow her. I’ll be back 
in a jiff, and supper’ll be ready’s soon I can git it.” 

She led him up a flight of dark rickety stairs and, 
passing along a narrow hallway, pushed him into a 
room, saying, ‘‘There’s a cot there, and ye can strip 
and wring out yer duds and they’ll dry by morn- 
ing. But say, kid, don’t yer try to get away, for 
take it from me, if Jake catches ye trying any- 
thing, he’ll do ye up for keeps.” 

She left him a small lamp with which she had 
lighted the way up, and going out, closed and locked 
the door. 

^‘Guess they forgot all about that one hundred 
dollars,” thought Jack, as he held up the light and 
looked about him. The room contained no win- 
dow, but there was a small opening in the ceiling, 
which seemed to open into a room above. The 
only thing in the room was an old broken cot. 

“Well,” he thought, as he set the light on the 
floor, “I wasn’t long in getting into trouble after 
I landed in Boston, that’s sure; still I don’t see how 
I could have avoided it. It must have been that man 
Reed who threw me over. He probably followed 


100 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


me, but I don’t see why he tried to kill me. Per- 
haps he thought I had a clue as to where Bob is,” 
he mused. 

While these thoughts were running through 
his mind, he had been taking off his wet clothes. 
Stripping to the skin, he wrung out what water he 
could, and then spread them out on the floor. ‘‘Good 
thing it’s so hot,” he muttered, “or I’d get a fine 
cold, but I guess there’s no danger in here, as it’s 
hot enough to fry eggs. Well, guess I might as 
well take things as easy as possible.” 

The cot was covered with an old sheet, which, 
strangely enough, seemed to be fairly clean, and 
wrapping it around him, he threw himself on the 
cot, too tired even to think any more, and in spite 
of the heat, was soon fast asleep. ^ 

He dreamed that he was in a baker’s shop, where 
many workmen were busily engaged baking bread. 
In some unaccountable manner, he was changed 
into an immense loaf of bread, and although he 
tried his best to tell the baker that he was a boy 
and not a loaf of bread, he was thrown into the 
oven. The heat grew more and more intense, until 
finally, when it seemed that he must be about done, 
he suddenly awoke. 

“Well,” was his first thought, “that was a funny 
dream.” Then he sat up, trying to think where 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 101 


he was. Soon remembrance returned, and with a 
groan he sank back. 

‘‘Whew, but it’s hot in here,” he said to himself. 
“Don’t believe I can get to sleep again; guess I’ll 
turn up the light and see if my clothes are drying.” 
As he stepped to the floor, the boards seemed al- 
most hot to his feet. 

“Wonder what makes it so awful hot,” he 
thought, as he turned up the light. Just then, he 
thought he heard a faint snapping sound from be- 
low, and an instant later, the odor of burning wood 
came to his nostrils, while he saw thin puffs of 
smoke curling up through the cracks of the floor. 

“My goodness,” he thought as he realized his 
position, “the house is on fire and I’m locked in 
here!” 


102 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER XIL 

BOB BEGINS WORK ON A FAKE CELL. 

About noon, the hunchback brought Bob's din- 
ner to him, and two hours later, King opened the 
door, saying, ‘Well, son, I guess I've got all you’ll 
need, and now I want you to get to work at once.” 

“All right, I suppose I might as well begin now 
as any time.” 

“Now, let me tell you something,” continued 
King, as they started down the stairs. “I know 
all about electricity and storage batteries jind I’m 
going to watch you every minute, and if you try to 
fool me and don't make that cell right, I give you 
fair warning that it'll be the worse for you.” 

Bob made no reply, but thought to himself, “If 
you can catch me before the thing is done and 
tested, you’re a good deal smarter than I think you 
are.” He fully realized that he was taking a des- 
perate chance, for he knew that the cell, as he was 
going to make it, would not work, for he had tried 
one like it while he and Jack were experimenting. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 103 


But he had made up his mind not to give the secret 
away, trusting that an opportunity to escape would 
present itself before he had finished. He had also 
resolved to work as slowly and to take as long a 
time about it as he dared. 

King led the way down to the laboratory and 
showed him the things he had bought. It would be 
tiresome to relate Bob’s work in detail, and we shall 
tell about only those parts that are necessary to the 
story. 

He managed to use up that afternoon and the 
greater part of the next day making one cap, but 
about four o’clock he had to declare that part of the 
work done. 

‘‘Now, what’s next?” asked King. 

“We’ll have to make another cap to go with this 
one.” 

“Are they both alike?” 

“No, this one is positive and the other will have 
to be negative. We’ll begin on that one in the 
morning.” 

“Not much we won’t,” almost shouted Kmg. 
“We’ll start it right now, and we ought to have it 
done by twelve o’clock tonight. I believe you’re 
loafing on the work anyway.” 

“Believe what you please,” said Bob, mad clear 
through, “but I’ll tell you right now that I’m not 


104 


THE GOLDEN BOYB 


going to work any more today, and what’s more 
you can’t make me either.” 

“Can’t, eh, we’ll see about that,” snapped King, 
coming toward Bob with clenched fist. 

Now, when Bob was real good and mad, he could 
be as stubborn as a mule, and he was in exactly that 
condition now, regardless of consequences. So, 
when King raised his fist as if to hit him, he stepped 
back, saying in a firm tone, “You hit me just once, 
and I won’t do another bit of work on that thing 
if you kill me for it.” 

King dropped his fist, and the two looked each 
other in the eyes for a full minute without speak- 
ing. “You’ll work tonight or you’ll get no sup- 
per,” he finally threatened. 

“Get no supper, eh?” snapped Bob. ‘^If I get no 
supper tonight, there’ll be no cell made tomorrow, 
just remember that,” and then, as King did not at 
once reply, he continued, “Now see here, no one yet, 
except my parents, ever made me do a thing I’d 
made up my mind not to do, and I’ve made it up 
good and hard, right now, and you can’t make me 
back down. You’ve got me in your power, and I 
suppose you can put me out of the way if you 
want to, but that won’t get you the cell, so what are 
you going to do about it?” 

King realized that he was licked, and gave in, 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 105 


with as good grace as he could muster. “All right/* 
he growled, “have your own way.** 

Bob was much relieved when he realized that he 
had won, for although he had put up a bold front, 
he had by no means felt as confident as his looks 
indicated. He spent the next forenoon getting the 
copper cylinder and the tank ready for the elec- 
trolysis, telling King that he had decided not to 
make the other cap till the cylinder was done, al- 
though he could easily have done the work in an 
hour. After dinner he dissolved the lead nitrate in 
water, poured the solution into the tank, and ad- 
justed the cap. 

“Have you a piece of platinum foil?*’ he asked 
King. 

“What do you want that for?** 

“Why, you see I make this cylinder the positive 
pole of the circuit and have to have the platinum 
for the negative.** 

“All right, I guess I can find a piece,** he replied. 

Bob hoped that he couldn’t, and, as a matter of 
fact, he could have used a piece of copper just as 
well, but, he thought, “if he will only go out after 
some and leave me here, I might find a way to es- 
cape.** But, to his disappointment, it was soon 
forthcoming, and putting it in place he was soon 
obliged to acknowledge that he was ready to turn 
on the current. 


106 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘How much do you want?’’ asked King. 

“One and four-tenths volts and six tenths of an 
ampere, replied Bob. 

As the current was turned on, King watched the 
cylinder closely, and soon he could see that a dark 
brown powder was collecting on the outside. 

“Hold on a minute,'’ said Bob, “I forgot to in- 
sulate the outside of that cylinder. Have you a 
piece of rubber tubing, large enough to slip on over 
it?" 

“I guess so, but it seems to me that you are all 
the time forgetting something or other." 

The correction was soon made, and the cylinder 
returned to the bath. After the current had been 
running about half an hour, King purposed that they 
take the cylinder out and see if they were getting 
any results, as they could not see the inside of it 
while it was in the tank. Glad of any delay. Bob 
readily assented, and as soon as it was removed, 
it was seen that a very small amount of the powder 
had coated the inside. 

“Humph," growled King. “It’s mighty slow. 
Won't it go faster if we use more juice?" 

“Yes," replied Bob, “but it will be too loose and 
spongy." This was the truth, as he had found by 
experiment, and he was very glad that this part of 
the work would have to go slowly, whether or no. 
When supper time came. King proposed that they 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 107 


leave the current running all night, but Bob wouldn’t 
hear to it. 

“No,” he said, “I must be here to watch it, for 
I know what to expect if it don’t pan out, and much 
depends on how that peroxide of lead is deposited 
Either you turn off the current or I quit.” 

King knew from past experience that it would 
be useless to threaten and grudgingly yielded the 
point. “Shall we take the cylinder out?” he asked. 

“Of course,” replied Bob, “I thought you knew 
something about this kind of work.” 

King muttered something about wanting to make 
sure, and leaving the laboratory they went up to 
supper. 

That night about ten o’clock, as Bob was lying 
on his bed trying, as usual, to think of some way to 
escape, he heard the key turn in the lock and the 
hunchback entered. 

“Mr. King sent me up to tell you to go to sleep 
good and early for he’s going to call you at five 
o’clock.” 

“Oh, he did, did he?” returned Bob. “Well, you 
just tell him that I’ll go to sleep when I get good 
and ready and not a minute before. Do you get 
that?” 

While speaking, he had got off the bed and grad- 
ually approached the hunchback. As he finished, 
he suddenly grabbed him round the neck, and be- 


108 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


fore the dwarf had time to defend himself, he was 
hurled to the far side of the room. Bob made a 
quick dash for the door and in an instant had it 
closed and locked behind him. Quickly, he turned 
and darted down the stairs, but before he reached 
the next floor, he heard the man shouting and 
pounding on the door. “I must hurry,'’ he thought, 
taking the next flight three steps at a time. He had 
reached the lower floor and was unlocking the front 
door, when a door at his left flew open and both 
King and Reed rushed out. 

'What’s all this?” demanded King; then as he 
saw who it was, he sprang forward and grabbed 
Bob by the shoulders and roughly yanked him back. 
"So you thought you’d give us the slip, did you? 
How’d you get out of that roonr?” 

Poor Bob’s heart sank as he realized that his at- 
tempt was a failure, and he made no reply. 

"We’ll soon find out,” said King. "Come on 
now,” and he made Bob precede him up the stairs. 

"You miserable runt,” he shouted, as he unlocked 
the door and saw the dwarf. "What does this 
mean ?” 

"Gee,” replied the latter, "he jumped me so quick, 
I didn’t know what was up before he was out of 
the room and I was locked in.” 

"Don’t blame him,” broke in Bob, "it wasn’t his 
fault.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 109 


“Well, the next time I send you up here, just 
deliver your message through the door, do you un- 
derstand ?” 

“I certainly do. I won’t give him a chance to 
get hold of me again,” declared the dwarf, rubbing 
his arm. 

Bob was much cast down as they went out. “But 
I won’t give up,” he thought as he was undressing. 
“But, confound it, I’ve got to do something pretty 
soon for I’m not going to make that job pan out 
nearly as long as I thought I could.” 

Before he slept that night, he had resolved upon 
a bold stroke for liberty, which he was resolved to 
put into execution at the very first opportunity. 

About eight o’clock the next morning, Bob real- 
ized that his chance had come. King was watching 
the cell while he was standing about three feet to 
one side. Suddenly, Bob drew back his right arm 
and before King could defend himself, he struck. 
The blow was a jim dandy, as Bob afterward ex- 
pressed it. It caught King fairly on the jaw and 
he went down like a log, knocking over the tank as 
he fell. Bob quickly leaned over him and took the 
key of the laboratory from his pocket, where he had 
seen him put it several times. 

“Now, if I can only get out,” he thought as he 
unlocked the door and stole softly up the stairs. 


110 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER XIII. 

BOB^S ESCAPE. 

Bob^s heart beat wildly as he crept up the stairs, 
for he had resolved to let no one stop him if he 
could help it, knowing that it would go hard with 
him if he again fell into King’s hands. He reached 
the top of the flight without hearing any one and 
quickly passed through the dining room to the front 
hall, and for the second time since his imprison- 
ment, he was at the front door. The halK had a 
vestibule and just as he succeeded in getting the 
inner door open he heard a key turn in the outer 
door, and before he had time to dodge back, it 
swung open and Reed entered. 

Coming thus suddenly face to face, it would be 
hard to say which was more at a loss what to do, 
but as soon as he could speak, Reed gasped, ‘‘You?” 

“Yes, me,” answered Bob, “and if you don’t step 
aside and let me pass, some one is going to get hurt 
and don’t you forget it.” 

“Where’s Jim?” Reed demanded, shutting the 
door. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 111 


“What’s left of him is down stairs, and I rather 
guess he’ll stay there a while.” 

As Bob had taken the precaution to lock the door 
of the laboratory after he came out and had the key 
in his pocket, he felt that he had little to fear from 
that quarter for a time at least, even if King had 
come to. 

“Your little game is up,” he continued, “and you 
might as well step aside and save trouble and per- 
haps your head as well.” 

“Think so?” sneered Reed, and Bob saw him 
reach his hand back toward his hip pocket and be- 
fore he was able to spring forward, he was looking 
into the barrel of a .32. 

“Now, my young friend, I rather guess you will 
reconsider your conclusion. I don’t want to hurt 
you, but I’d much prefer putting a bullet through 
you to letting you get away. Now, about face and 
march down to the laboratory again, and no monkey 
shines, or this here gun will be apt to go off, for 
when I get excited, my finger gets twitchy, and re- 
member, if it does go off, the bullet will come out 
of the end that’s pointing at you.” 

All this had probably not taken over a minute, 
but during that time. Bob had been doing some 
quick thinking and had resolved that, gun or no 
gun, he was not going to lose this chance. They 
passed out into the dining room, Reed following 


112 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Bob at a distance of perhaps six feet. Reaching the 
door, at the head of the stairs. Bob pretended that 
he was trying to open it. 

“It seems to be locked,” he said, “Guess the wind 
must have blown it shut.” 

“Well, hold on a minute, IVe got a key in my 
pocket.” 

Bob turned and saw that Reed had lowered the 
revolver a little as he searched his pocket for the 
key. It was the chance he wanted. Like a flash 
he leaped, and before the startled man could raise 
his arm, his wrist was seized and given a powerful 
twist, which sent the revolver spinning to the other 
side of the room. Reed, maddened to the point 
of frenzy, struggled with all his strength, and he 
was no mean antagonist, but Bob knew that he was 
fighting for his liberty, if not for his life, and fought 
as he had never fought before. Round the room 
they struggled, knocking over the chairs as they 
fought. Once the man got the boy down on his 
back, and with his hand on his throat, began to 
choke him, but Bob managed to squirm over, and, 
getting to his knees, flung one arm round Reed’s 
neck, and giving a powerful twist made him lose 
his hold. Both quickly rose to their feet and stood 
. facing each other, panting for breath. Suddenly, 
catching sight of the revolver on the floor near his 
feet, Reed made a move toward it. But the move- 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 113 


merit gave Bob the chance he wanted, and, spring- 
ing forward, he swung his right arm with all the 
strength he could muster. His fist landed squarely 
on the man’s right eye, and he went down in a heap. 
He was not knocked out, but the blow gave Bob 
time to grab up the revolver, and by the time Reed 
was on his feet again, he took his turn at looking 
down the barrel. 

“Now, my old friend, I guess I’ll have to ask you 
to recognize that conclusion you spoke of a few 
moments ago. This thing don’t look quite so good 
at that end, does it? Give my regards to your 
friend below, if you can get enough life in him to 
accept them.” 

So saying, he backed out of the room into the 
hall, still pointing the revolver at the man, who 
stood looking daggers at him, but not daring to 
move, and this time reached the street without mis- 
hap. 

“Whew!” he thought, as he slipped the revolver 
into his pocket, “that was some exciting time while 
it lasted. Well, I’m free at last and I’ll take mighty 
good care that they don’t get me again. Wonder 
which way I’d better go?” 

Although well acquainted with a good part of 
Boston, as he looked about him he had no idea in 
what part of the city he was, except that it was 
one of the poorer districts. 


114 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Coming to the harbor front, he turned toward the 
south, judging that the ferry was in that direction. 
He had gone but a few squares, when he heard the 
cry of fire, and glancing down a side street which 
led to the water’s edge, he saw a number of men 
and boys running toward an old house near the 
water and about a square from where he was stand- 
ing. 

‘'Guess I’ll see what’s doing,” he thought as he 
turned and started to run down the street. 

Coming opposite the house, which stood some- 
what apart by itself, he saw that it was a three- 
story frame structure, and the flames were already 
visible through the windows of the first floor, while 
smoke was pouring from those of the first and 
second stories. 

“It won’t last ten minutes,” said a man standing 
next to him, “the walls will fall in before the fire 
engine gets here.” 

“Are the people all out?” asked Bob. 

“Dunno, guess so. Don’t see any one, do you?” 

But, at that moment, a figure appeared at a front 
third-story window and shouted for help. At the 
sound of the voice, Bob’s heart almost stopped beat- 
ing, and shading his eyes with his hand, he gazed 
eagerly upward. “It can’t be possible,” he thought, 
“but that was Jack’s voice sure as guns, and what’s 
more, it looks like him.” Just then, the boy gave 
another wild cry for help. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 115 


“My soul, that’s Jack,” he groaned, “sure as tate. 
Quick,” he shouted, “where’s a ladder?” 

The cry was taken up by the crowd, and in a 
minute, a man pushed his way through the crowd, 
carrying a fairly long ladder. Eager hands seized 
it and raised it toward the boy, but alas for their 
hopes, it reached only to the middle of the second 
story window, too short by nearly eight feet. Bob 
gave a groan, but just then he saw a store on the 
opposite side of the street, and rushing across, he 
darted in. “A coil of rope,” he shouted, but there 
was no one there. Just at that moment, however, 
a man rushed in, and hearing Bob’s cry, darted to 
the back part of the store, to return almost instantly, 
dragging about twenty feet of rope after him. 
Snatching the end of the rope from his hand. Bob 
rushed back across the street rapidly coiling it as 
he ran. By the time he reached the foot of the lad- 
der the smoke and flames were pouring from the 
windows in great clouds and the entire front of the 
house was tottering. 

“Can’t do it,” shouted a man, “it’ll fall before 
you can get up.” 

“I’m going to do it anyway,” muttered the boy 
as he started to ascend. 

The heat was terrific, and the smoke nearly choked 
him, but he fought his way upward rung by rung. 
It seemed that he would never reach the top, as the 


116 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


rungs of the ladder were so hot they fairly blistered 
his hands and the walls threatened to fall at any 
moment, but he did it, and bracing himself by put- 
ting one foot through the ladder, he grasped one 
end of the rope in his right hand, holding the coil 
in his left. 

‘‘Now, Jack, catch it,’^ he shouted. 

“Great guns. Bob, how’d you get here?’' 

“Never mind now, catch this rope,” and he threw* 
it up toward the window with all the strength he 
had left, which was not very much. By rare good 
fortune Jack caught it. 

“Quick, now, fasten it to something, this wall 
won’t last much longer.” 

Jack disappeared for what seemed to Bob a long 
time, but at last he saw him at the window again. 

“I’ve got it,” he shouted. 

“All right, now, come down while I hold this 
end.” 

Jack swung himself from the window and came 
down the rope hand over hand and soon had his 
feet on the top rung of the ladder. 

“Now, quick, we haven’t a second to lose,” cried 
Bob, as he started to descend. “Are you all right ?” 

“Sure thing, look out, I’m coming,” shouted Jack. 

By this time several of the rungs were on fire, 
and two or three broke as Bob stepped on them, but 
he managed to keep his hold, and, reaching the 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 117 


ground, looked up to see Jack half way down. But, 
now the ladder was so weakened that, as the boy 
stepped on to the next rung, it swayed and broke 
fairly in two, and at that instant, the entire front 
of the building fell in with a tremendous crash. 

Jack, however, was safe. He had felt the ladder, 
as well as the wall, going and had managed to throw 
himself backward away from the burning building. 
He fell only about eight feet and landed on his feet 
unhurt. Running quickly back, away from the in- 
tense heat, the two boys hugged each other in a 
frenzy of joy, while the crowd set up a great shout 
of gladness. 

“You saved my life, old man, but for mercy sakes, 
how did you get here ?” 

“It’s too long a story to tell now,” replied Bob, 
“let’s try to get out of this crowd.” 

Although many tried to detain them, the two boys 
managed to slip away just as a fire engine, with 
a great ringing of bells, dashed on to the scene. 


118 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER XIV. 

ON THE KIDNAPPER^S TRAIL. 

The two boys were pretty well tired out from 
the strain through which they had just passed and 
they both had several bad burns on their hands, 
which, now that the excitement was over, began to 
assert themselves. They had not walked far when 
they saw a small park, where were some benches, 
and Jack proposed that they sit down and rest up 
a bit. As he knew that Bob had been taken to Bos- 
ton, naturally the latter was the more surprised of 
the two on seeing his brother there, and as soon as 
they were seated on a bench Bob said : 

‘‘Now, Jack, tell me all about it, quick, and then 
I’ll give you an account of my racket.’’ 

So Jack, starting from the time Bob disappeared, 
told him all that had happened. When he reached 
the point where we left him, he said : 

'T tell you what, Bob, when I found that those 
rascals had varmoused and left me locked in that 
burning house, I was scared. I pounded on the 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 119 


door and yelled till I was hoarse and when no one 
came I was about ready to give up. By this time 
the room was pretty full of smoke, and my eyes 
smarted so that I could hardly keep them open and 
the floor was so hot, that I had to fairly dance, and 
it was getting hotter every minute. I had managed 
to get my clothes on by this time and started to see 
if I could kick a hole in the door, but it was too 
strong and I could make no impression on it.’’ 

‘‘Couldn’t you cut a hole in it with your knife?” 
asked Bob. 

“I thought of that, but I had lost my knife some- 
where. Well, just as I thought that all hope was 
gone, I remembered that there was a hole about two 
feet square in the ceiling at one end of the room. It 
was fully eight feet from the floor, but I took the 
cot and leaned it against the wall and managed, by 
climbing up on it, to reach the edge of the opening 
and climb up through. I found myself in an empty 
room running the entire length of the house. There 
was a stairway at the other end and I ran to it, but 
the smoke was pouring up in clouds and I could see 
that the' stairs were ablaze and the room below full 
of fire, so I didn’t dare to risk it. I thought then 
it was all up with me, but it was a little cooler up 
there and I managed to get one of the front win- 
dows open, and you know the rest. I tell you. Bob, 
old man, you never looked so good to me as you 


120 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


did coming up that ladder with the rope in your 
hand. I think I should have jumped in another two 
minutes. But, now tell me all about yourself. Where 
have you been and how did you get away ?” 

Then Bob gave him a full account of his adven- 
tures and when he told how he had hit Reed on the 
nose, Jack said, *^Good enough for him, wish I’d 
been there.” Then, when Bob had finished, he asked, 
‘'But why do you suppose Reed pushed me over- 
board? It must have been he.” 

"Of course it was,” answered Bob, "there’s no one 
else who would do it except King and it couldn’t 
have been he, for he was with me at the time. I 
suppose he saw you, and thinking you might make 
trouble for them, he probably thought he would dis- 
pose of you.” 

"I guess that’s about the way of it, leastwise, 
that’s the way I figured it out. Hello, there’s a 
cop; suppose we ask him where we are.” 

They soon learned that they were only about a 
half mile from the station, and as they were well 
rested, they decided that they would go there and 
take the train for their Uncle Ben’s in Winthrop. 

Reaching the station, they found a train about to 
leave, and in less than a half hour, they were getting 
off at Winthrop Beach. Uncle Ben’s house was but 
a few minutes’ walk from the station and soon they 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 121 

were ringing the bell, and their Aunt Lucy answered 
it. 

‘‘Why, it’s Bob and Jack,” she cried as she saw 
them. “Where did you come from? My, but I’m 
glad to see you,” and without giving them time to 
speak, she grabbed one in each arm and gave them 
a good hug and kiss. 

“Where’s Uncle Ben?” asked Bob as soon as he 
could get the question in. 

“He had to go to the bank, but I expect him out 
on the next train, as he said he was only going to 
stay a little while. But there, I’ll bet you haven’t 
had any lunch and are as hungry as two young 
bears. Come right in and we’ll have something to 
eat in less than no time.” 

“How are all the folks?” asked Aunt Lucy, as 
they sat down. 

“Fine and dandy,” replied Jack, “but my good- 
ness, Bob, we must call them up right off. Can I 
use the ’phone, auntie?” 

The ’phone was in the front hall and Jack was 
gone some little time, but at last he returned. Just 
as they began to eat, the door opened and Uncle Ben 
entered the room. He was no less delighted to see 
the boys than Aunt Lucy had been, and the meal was 
a merry one. The boys said nothing regarding their 
adventures till the lunch was over, then Bob said : 


122 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Uncle Ben, weVe got quite a long story to tell 
you.” 

“Is that so? Well, fire away.” 

So Bob began and told them all about their ad- 
ventures. He was interrupted many times by ex- 
pressions of horror and indignation from Uncle Ben 
and Aunt Lucy. 

“Well, of all the happenings,” declared Uncle 
Ben, when he had finished. '‘Say, Bob, do you 
think you can find that house where they had you ?” 

“Yes, I think so. It was in East Boston, 54 Uhl 
street. I noticed the number of the house and the 
street as I ran out.” 

“That’s in one of the worst sections of the city,” 
declared Uncle Ben. “Now, boys, if you are not 
too tired we must take the next train to the city and 
report this to the police, and we may be in time to 
catch them. The scoundrels, they must be caught 
and punished if possible; it’s not safe to have them 
at large.” 

Both boys declared that they were not tired, and, 
as the next train left in about fifteen minutes, they 
started at once. 

In a short time they reached East Boston and took 
the ferry across. 

“It must have been here that I went overboard,” 
said Jack as they were about half way across, and 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 123 

he shuddered as he looked down at the water. 
wouldn't want to go through that again.” 

‘T should say not,” said Uncle Ben. ‘‘Oh, by the 
way. Jack, you didn’t see either of those fellows 
round the house after the fire, did you?” 

‘‘No, I never thought a thing about them.” 

“Well, they ought to be found and locked up, for 
they undoubtedly intended to rob you, and were 
probably going to make your father pay a big sum 
of money.” 

“Yes, I guess that’s so,” agreed Jack, “but then 
they saved my life and I’d rather call it square.” 

“Well, if that’s the way you feel about it,” said 
Uncle Ben, “we won’t say anything to the captain 
about them.” 

Reaching the other side of the harbor, they lost 
no time in getting a car, which took them to State 
street, where was the police station of which Uncle 
Ben’s friend was captain. 

“Is Captain Long in?” he asked a sergeant, who 
was sitting at the desk as they entered. 

“I think so, sir, please wait a moment and I’ll 
see.” Touching a bell on his desk, he ordered the 
attendant to see if the captain was in his office. 

“Right, sir,” said the man going out. 

He was back in a minute, and telling them that 
Captain Long would see them at once, conducted 
them through several rooms into his private office. 


124 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Why, hello Ben,” greeted a large broad-shoul- 
dered man, wearing the uniform of a police captain, 
as they were ushered into the room. “Come to give 
yourself up?” 

“Not just yet, Harry. These are my two neph- 
ews from Maine,” he said, introducing the boys, “I 
think likely youVe seen them around my house, but 
I guess you’ve never met them.” 

The captain expressed himself as pleased to know 
them, and then motioning them to sit down, asked : 

“Now, what can I do for you?” 

“Well, Harry,” answered Uncle Ben, “these two 
youngsters have been through enough to turn your 
hair gray.” Then turning to Bob, he said: “Tell 
him your story as quickly as you can, for every 
minute may count.” 

So, for the third time that day Bob gave an ac- 
count of his kidnapping, only this time he made it 
as brief as possible. The captain said nothing till 
he had finished, but they could see that he was not 
losing a word. 

“Give me as careful a description of those two 
men as you can,” he ordered, and Bob obeyed. 

“This is indeed serious,” said the captain, turning 
to Mr. Golden when Bob had finished. “I’ll bet you 
my cap that the smaller of the two men is Jim the 
Penman, and if that’s right, he is one of the most 
wanted men in the country today. Why, there’s a 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 125 


reward of $10,000 for him, and that other fellow 
may be Oily Joe; they have worked together a good 
bit and are two of the most expert counterfeiters in 
the world. The two of them have given us a lot 
of trouble. I’m mighty glad you came to me, al- 
though I’m afraid it’s too late, as they’ve probably 
skipped, but we’ll make a try for them and it’s pos- 
sible we may be on time.” 

He touched a button on his desk, and an officer 
entered. 

'‘Have the patrol out at once with six of the best 
men available,” he ordered, ‘‘Report to me here. 
Let’s see,” he said, as the man saluted and retired, 
“you said 54 Uhl street. That’s over across the 
ferry.” 

In less than two minutes a knock sounded and at 
the captain’s “come in,” six uniformed policemen 
entered. Quickly, he explained the situation to 
them and gave his orders. 

“The driver will let you out about two squares 
this side of the house, and I’ll be there by the time 
you are, and tell you how to arrange things.” 

He gave them the address and saluting, they left 
the room. 

Don’t lose a minute,” he shouted as the last man 
went out. 

“Now,” said Captain Long, turning to Mr. Gol- 


126 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


den and the boys, ‘'don't you want to come along 
with me in my car ?" 

“We sure do," cried both boys together, and even 
Uncle Ben seemed no less anxious. 

“All right then, this way," and he led them out 
to the street. 

His car, a powerful two-seated machine, stood 
in front of the station house, the chauffeur dozing 
on the front seat, but he sprang to activity as he 
heard the captain's voice. 

Quickly, they entered the machine. Captain Long 
giving the direction to the driver, and just as they 
started, the patrol whizzed by, the horses at full 
gallop. 


THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 127 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE counterfeiter's DEN. 

They passed the patrol just as they reached the 
ferry and all crossed together. Reaching the other 
side, the machine soon distanced the patrol, and, 
after running for about ten minutes, the captain told 
the driver to stop and the car drew up at the curb. 

‘‘The place is only two squares away," he ex- 
plained, “and we’ll wait here for the patrol." 

It came dashing up in a few moments and the 
men got out. 

“Now, two of you go round by Clear street, and 
come up by the back way," ordered the captain, 
“and two more go up Clover a couple of blocks and 
then turn down Front, which will bring you to the 
front of the house. The rest of you wait here a 
few moments, and then go straight there and we’ll 
follow about a square behind. Now, don’t make 
any noise till we are all there, but if you see any one 
leave the house, arrest him at once." 

Four of the men saluted and started off in the 


128 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


directions ordered, and, after waiting five minutes, 
the other two left, followed a moment later by the 
captain and the Goldens. Arriving at the house, 
they found the four officers there. 

“Are the others round back?’^ asked the captain. 

“Yes, sir,'’ answered one of the men. 

“See any one?” 

“No, sir.” 

“All right then, you wait here and I’ll ring the 
bell.” This he did, but no one answered the sum- 
mons. 

“Guess they’ve skipped,” said one of the men. 

After ringing several times. Captain Long said: 

“Two of you stay here and the rest of us will 
go round to the rear, and see if we can get in with- 
out smashing a door, and,” he added, “keep an eye 
on those side windows.” 

They found the two officers waiting at the rear. 

“Seen anything ?” asked Captain Long. 

“Not a thing,” was the reply. 

They found the back door locked with the key on 
the inside, and, remarking that he guessed they 
would have to break a window, the captain took a 
small diamond glass cutter from his pocket and 
scratched a circle about six inches in diameter on 
the window pane, just above the catch. A quick 
push shoved it in, and reaching his hand through, he 
soon had the window open. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 129 


“Now, he said, turning to one of the men, 

“you jump in and unlock the door.” 

“In a minute they were in the house, and passing 
through to the front door, admitted the others. 
Leaving one man on guard at the front door, an- 
other at the rear, while a third was stationed in the 
middle room, the rest made a thorough search of 
the upper part of the house. But, to their disap- 
pointment, they found no one. They returned to 
the first floor and the captain said : 

“Now we’ll go down to the basement.” 

Bob found the room looking about as he had left 
it earlier in the day, except that King was no longer 
there. He showed them the cylinder, on which he 
had been at work, and which he found lying on the 
floor. They made a careful search of the room, but 
found nothing of an incriminating nature and were 
about to return upstairs, when Jack, had been look- 
ing over a desk in one corner of the room shouted : 

“Come over here a minute, I believe I’ve found 
something.” 

He had noticed a piece of paper lying partly con- 
cealed, under one corner of the desk and had moved 
it slightly to get the paper without tearing it, when 
he noticed a break in the flooring, and on moving 
the desk a little farther, he saw a small ring in the 
floor. 


130 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘T believe there’s a trap door here,” he declared 
as they came over to where he was. 

It was but a moment’s work to shove the desk 
out of the way, and sure enough, there was a trap 
door about two feet square. One of the officers 
took hold of the ring, and a second later they were 
gazing down into a pitch-black hole. Captain Long 
kneeled down and flashed the light from an electric 
torch into the space below. 

‘7ove,” he shouted, “here’s a find sure enough; 
I’m going down and the rest of you follow.” 

It was a large room about twenty feet long by 
twelve feet wide. The walls were of brick, and so 
far as they could see, there was no break in them. 
The room was lighted by several incandescent elec- 
tric lights, which one of the men had turned on. 
Looking around, they found that the room contained 
an electric furnace, such as is used for melting bul- 
lion, a small printing press, and several other pieces 
of machinery, which the captain recognized as per- 
taining to the making of counterfeit money. They 
also found several dies for stamping quarters and 
half dollars, as well as a number of plates for print- 
ing bills of ten and twenty dollar denominations. 
Several pounds of lead and copper, together with a 
smaller amount of silver and gold was also found. 

“I’m mighty sorry that we didn’t get the rascals,’' 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 131 


declared Captain Long, “but this find is well worth 
our while.’’ 

He started to mount the ladder, telling the others 
to follow him, when a very astonishing thing hap- 
pened. Suddenly the trap door banged down and 
at the same time the lights went out, while a mock- 
ing laugh sounded from above. Quickly, the cap- 
tain sprang up the ladder, and bracing himself, 
pushed with all his strength against the door, but it 
did not so much as budge. 

‘We’re trapped, sure as fate,” he said, as he gave 
it up and came down the ladder. “Where do you 
suppose those fellows were hid all the time ?” 

“They probably had some secret hiding place 
which we didn’t find,” declared Mr. Golden. 

“I guess that’s about the size of it. Here, Bill, 
I guess you and Fred are the strongest, you two get 
up on that ladder and see if you can make any im- 
pression on that door. I wonder how, in the name 
of all that’s funny, they have fastened it, for I didn’t 
see any lock on it.” 

The two officers did as ordered, but in spite of 
their most strenuous efforts, they could make no 
impression on it. They did, however, make a most 
decided impression on the ladder, for suddenly it 
broke near the middle, and the two came tumbling 
down in a heap. Fortunately, they were not hurt 
by the fall and laughed as they picked themselves up. 


132 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘Well, we’re in a pretty fix, sure enough,” de- 
clared Captain Long. “I should have left one of 
you on guard, but I never thought of those fellows 
being in hiding there after the way we searched the 
place. It’s a good thing I left word at the station 
where we were going, but the rest of the force will 
sure have the laugh on us.” 

“Say, do you smell anything?” suddenly asked 
Bob. 

“Seem’s though I do,” replied two of the officers 
sniffing. 

No one spoke for a moment and then Captain 
Long said: 

“My God, men, that’s coal gas and it’s getting 
stronger every minute. Those devils have turned 
it in here somehow. Quick,” he almost shouted, 
“we’ve got to get out of here at once or we’ll all be 
dead men in less than ten minutes.” 

By this time the odor of the gas was very strong 
and was rapidly getting stronger. Several of the 
officers were equipped with electric torches, and us- 
ing them, they made a hurried search of the walls 
to see if by chance there was any opening which 
they had overlooked before, but nothing of the kind 
could they find. 

“Gee, but I’m getting sleepy,” said one of the 
men. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 133 


‘‘We’ll all be worse than sleepy in about a min- 
ute,” groaned another. 

“Well,” spoke up Mr. Golden, “It’s hard to die 
penned up like this, but if it’s God’s will, let us meet 
it like men.” 

“Oh, what’ll my poor wife and babies do?” 
groaned the man who had spoken before. 

But little more was said. Bob got hold of Jack’s 
hand and whispered : 

“It’ll be an easy death, old man.” 

“I know,” replied Jack. “I’m not afraid, but I 
do wish we could see the folks.” 

The deadly gas was rapidly getting in it’s work, 
and three of the officers were already stretched on 
the floor, while the others were breathing heavily. 
Bob’s head was swimming and he knew that he 
would be unconscious in another moment. He 
stretched himself out on the floor, putting one arm 
around the neck of Jack, who was already lying 
down. The other arm he stretched out along the 
floor, and as he did so, suddenly his fingers felt an 
iron ring. Hardly knowing what he did, he began 
to pull on it. To his surprise, he felt it give, and 
summoning all his remaining strength, he rose to 
his knees and gave a quick yank to it. A trap door 
opened, letting in a rush of cool fresh air. It par- 
tially revived him and he shouted. 

“Quick, here’s a way out.” 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


i:u 

Only Mr. Golden and the captain were conscious, 
and they dragged themselves, as quickly as possible, 
to the opening. 

The inrush of air had cleared the gas away from 
the open door somewhat, and Mr. Golden had 
strength enough to whisper : 

‘^You and the captain go down the hole quickly 
and I’ll try to pass the others down to you.” 

Quickly lowering himself over the edge. Bob 
found himself in a passage way about three feet 
wide where the air was perfectly fresh, and coming 
through with a strong draft. He felt much stronger 
at once. In an instant, the captain had followed 
him, dragging Jack with him. 

‘I’m afraid we’ll never be able to get them all - 
out,” he gasped, “but this draft is carrying the gas 
out and it’s not so bad as it was.” 

Mr. Golden succeeded in dragging two of the men 
to the opening, where they were grabbed by Bob 
and the captain, and dragged a few feet along the 
passageway. But now his strength gave out, and 
as Bob grabbed the third man and pulled him 
through, Mr. Golden fell unconscious half way 
through the opening. The captain caught him and 
dragged him through and Bob said : 

“I’ll get the rest.” 

Without waiting for a reply, he lifted himself 
through the opening, an electric torch in his hand. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 135 


The gas had been driven out so that it was not so 
very bad, and he soon succeeded in getting the last 
man out. As he again lowered himself through the 
opening, he closed the trap door after him. Jack 
and three of the men, as well as Mr. Golden had, by 
this time, somewhat revived, and in a short time 
two others came to and were able to sit up, but the 
last one brought out still lay as one dead. 

“Now, let’s see where this passage leads to,” 
said Captain Long, “but two of you stay with Ed 
and keep moving his arms up and down and I guess 
he’ll come round all right.” 

The rest started forward, by the light of their 
torches, and after walking about a block, they came 
to a flight of stone steps. Mounting these they 
found themselves in the kitchen of an old house, 
which seemed to be deserted. 

“Two of you fellows go back and get the rest and 
we’ll wait here,” ordered Captain Long. 

In a short time they returned with the others. 
The man called Ed had revived, but was not able to 
walk, and two of the officers had carried him 
through the passageway. 

“We were certainly fortunate to get out of that 
alive,” declared Uncle Ben, solemnly. 

“Indeed we were,” agreed Captain Long. “If 
Bob hadn’t hit on that ring just when he did, we’d 
all been past help by this time.” Then, turning to 


136 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


the officers, he asked, *'How are you fellows feel- 
ing now ?’' 

AJl declared that they were all right, with the 
exception of Ed, who was still pretty weak. 

'‘All right then, one of you take him to the patrol 
and the rest of us will go back to that house and 
see if we can find those fellows this time/’ 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 137 


CHAPTER XVL 

BUT THE BIRDS HAD FLOWN. 

As they were on the way back to the house, Jack 
turned to Bob, who was walking beside him and 
said : 

‘T hope to goodness that our adventures for today 
are about through. I tell you what, coming so 
near to death twice in one day is a bit too stren- 
uous to suit me.’’ 

They soon reached the house and entered by the 
front door, which they found unlocked, with drawn 
revolvers. The room smelled strongly of gas, but 
they quickly opened the windows, and it was soon 
nearly all driven out. They searched the house as 
before, but with no success and finally came to the 
laboratory. Here the gas was pretty bad, but one 
of the officers soon found where it was turned on 
and shut it off. They were, however, unable to 
find the secret hiding place of the counterfeiters, al- 
though they searched for some time. At last the 
captain said : 


138 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘Well, I guess we’ll have to give it up for now, 
but I’m going to leave two of you men here to keep 
watch, and I’ll send some one to relieve you as soon 
as I get back to the station.” Then, turning to Mr. 
Golden, “We might as well be going now, I’m not 
going to have that stuff down there removed till 
tomorrow.” 

On their way back Bob said that they must take 
the night train for home, as their parents would 
be anxious to see them, but Uncle Ben said : 

“Your Aunt Lucy and I intended to run down to 
Skowhegan in a few days anyway, and if you’ll wait 
till morning, we’ll all go together in the car. We’ll 
telephone as soon as we get back to the house and 
then we’ll get an early start tomorrow. What do 
you say?” 

The boys eagerly agreed to this plan, and by the 
time it was settled they were at the ferry where they 
said goodby to Captain Long. 

The latter went at once to the station house and 
sent out a general alarm for the apprehension of the 
counterfeiters, but we will say here that they were 
not caught. 

On their way to Winthrop, Uncle Ben asked the 
two boys to say nothing to Aunt Lucy regarding 
their narrow escape, as it would worry her, and 
they promised to be careful and not let it out in 
her hearing. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 139 


It was nearly suppertime when they reached home, 
and Jack at once called up his father and told him 
of their plans, while Bob gave his aunt an account 
of their afternoon’s trip, carefully avoiding, how- 
ever, any mention of their being locked in the 
counterfeiter’s den. 

‘It’s too bad they escaped,” she said when he had 
finished. 

Uncle Ben then told her of their plans for the 
morrow, and she said she guessed she could get 
ready in time, although it was pretty short notice. 

As the boys were very tired after such a stren- 
uous day, they were in bed before nine o’clock. 

“We want to be off by six o’clock,” shouted Un- 
cle Ben, as they went up stairs, “and I’ll have to 
pull you out by five.” 

“All right,” answered Jack, “we’ll be ready.” 

After they were undressed they did not forget 
to kneel down by the bed and thank their heavenly 
Father for His care over them. 

“George, but this has been some exciting day,” 
declared Jack as he tumbled into bed, closely fol- 
lowed by Bob. “I don’t think I would care to go 
through that mess again.” 

“I should say not,” agreed Bob, “we might not 
get off so lucky next time. I don’t believe we’ll ever 
be any nearer death again, till our time comes, than 
we were this afternoon.” 


140 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘I guess you’re right there,” then suddenly, ^*Say, 
Bob, do you suppose we’ve seen the last of those 
two fellows?” 

“Hard to tell, but I sure hope so. Fd feel a good 
bit better if we’d caught them this afternoon.” 

“Same here,” came sleepily from Jack. 

They were too tired to talk any longer and were 
soon fast asleep. 

They were still sleeping soundly, when a little 
before five o’clock, their uncle awoke them. 

“It’s too bad to wake you, boys,” he said, “but 
breakfast is almost ready, and we’ve got to be off 
in about an hour.” 

They were soon dressed and running downstairs 
found a hearty breakfast awaiting them, to which 
they did full justice. 

Mr. Golden’s car was a big roomy Lozier, and by 
six o’clock they were off. They took the chauffeur 
with them, although the boys, taking turns, drove 
the greater part of the way. They reached Port- 
land by eleven o’clock, and stopped there for dinner. 
When nearly to Waterville, about twenty-five miles 
from the cottage, a tire blew out, but as this was 
their only mishap, they did not complain, and a 
new one was quickly substituted. The run up from 
the latter city was made in a little over an hour, and 
they reached the cottage shortly after six o’clock. 
The boys were greeted as heroes by their parents 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 141 


and the girls, and there was great rejoicing over 
their safe return, old Mike coming in for his share, 
the tears fairly rolling down his cheeks as he grasped 
their hands saying: 

‘‘Begorra and I always did say you byes had more 
lives nor a cat, and allways were sure to land on 
your fate/’ 

While eating supper. Bob and Jack in turn, gave 
a full account of their adventures, except that they 
said nothing about being so nearly killed by gas, and 
their mother’s face paled as she realized how nearly 
she had lost one, if not both of her boys. When 
they had finished, their father said : 

"We must keep a sharp lookout for those rascals, 
although I hardly think they will dare to show up 
here again.” 

""Say, dad,” asked Jack, ""where’s that detective?” 

""We haven’t seen or heard from him since you 
left,” answered his father. 

Uncle Ben agreed with his brother that the boys 
should be very careful, saying: 

""There’s been a lot in the papers about those fel- 
ilows, that is if they’re the ones we think they are, 
and they have a reputation for daring that has sel- 
dom been equaled.” 

""Well,” remarked Bob, ""I hope they keep away, 
as I’ve had all of their company that I care about 
for a while at least.” 


142 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Same here/’ agreed Jack, “but I say, it’s mighty 
funny what’s got that Sharp detective.” 

He had hardly spoken when the doorbell rang, 
and as the maid opened it the detective walked in. 
When he saw Bob his eyes stuck out, as Jack after 
expressed it, as large as saucers. 

“Well, I’ll be blowed,” he cried, “where in the 
world did you come from?” 

And then the story had to be told over again. 

“Well, I’ll be blessed,” uttered the detective, when 
they had finished, “Guess I’m getting too old for a 
job of this kind. Here I’ve been working night 
and day, and have scoured the country for a dis- 
tance of twenty miles in every direction, and didn’t 
get a smell, and you,” turning to Jack, “find him 
first whack off the reel.” 

“I didn’t find him,” declared Jack, “He found 
me,” and he added, “it was a mighty lucky find for 
me. 

Mr. Sharp seemed very much downcast, but Mr. 
Golden assured him that he was sure that he had 
done all that any one could have done. 

“You, of course, didn’t know that he had been 
taken to Boston, and the two boys meeting as they 
did was a coincidence, which wouldn’t happen twice 
in a thousand years. No, you needn’t reproach 
yourself in the least.” 

After this the detective felt much better, but re- 


AND THEIK NEW ELECTRIC CELL 14a 


marked that it was the third time in his twenty 
years as a detective that he had been beaten. 

Uncle Ben then proposed that they take a run 
across the lake in the Sprite and get their trunk, 
which they had sent by express, and which ought 
to be at the hotel. The women folks decided that 
they wouldn’t go, so Mr. Golden, Uncle Ben, Mr. 
Sharp, who wanted to catch the night train for Bos- 
ton, and the two boys, composed the crew. 

‘^So that’s the wonderful cell that all the trouble 
has been about, is it?” asked Uncle Ben, as they 
started. “Well, it certainly is a big thing and I’m 
proud of you boys.” 

On the way across, they told Mr. Golden of their 
narrow escape in the counterfeiter’s den, and why 
they had kept silent about it at the table. He shud- 
dered, as he realized how near death they had been 
and said that they had done just right in not letting 
their mother and aunt know about it, and Mr. 
Sharp declared that he was going to take up the 
search for them as soon as he got to Boston. 

They obtained the trunk, and saying goodby to 
the detective and wishing him good luck, started 
back for the cottage, which they reached about nine 
o’clock, and, as they were all tired, they soon retired 
for the night. 

The boys spent the next day sailing on the lake 
with the girls, while their father and uncle went 


144 : 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


down to Skowhegan, having some business to at- 
tend to. Late in the afternoon the four young peo> 
pie went fishing and, in a short time, caught a good 
mess which they had for supper. 

That night, as the boys were getting ready for 
bed. Jack suddenly said : 

“I say. Bob, what’s the trouble with fitting up our 
motorcycles with electric motors and running them 
with the cells?” 

'Just the thing! Wonder why we didn’t think 
of that before.” 

"Huh, that’s easy, guess we’ve had our minds 
fairly full of something else, lately.” 

"That’s a fact, we have,” agreed Bob, "We’ll go 
down on the wheels, first thing in the morning and 
see what we can do. I guess likely we can get the 
motors at Watson’s, and if we can make it a go, 
we’ll have some bikes.” 

Right after breakfast the next morning, they got 
their motorcycles out and in less than fifteen min- 
utes, were in Watson’s store in Skowhegan. For- 
tunately, he had two small motors, of ten horse- 
power each, on hand, which seemed to the boys to 
be just what they wanted, and asking him to send 
them up to the house at once, they were soon in the 
laboratory hard at work. 

"You start on a couple sets of caps. Jack, and I’ll 
get the electroylsis apparatus going and fill a tew 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 145 


cylinders/^ Bob had said as soon as they got there. 
By noon, Jack had the caps done, as he had every- 
thing at hand to work with and knew how to do it, 
and by five o'clock, they had taken the engines apart 
and had the wheels all ready for the installation oi 
the motors. 

“Come on now and get washed up," called Bob, 
as he shut down the dynamo and took out two 
cylinders, which, he was pleased to see, were full. 
“That's eight we’ve filled today, but come get a 
move, we must catch that five o'clock car or we’ll 
be late to supper." 

Edna and May met them at the wharf, in the 
Sprite, and by six-thirty they were eating supper 
and telling the family about their day’s work. 


146 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER XVIL 

THE NEW ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE. 

Bright and early the next morning found the 
boys hard at work again. They were very skillful 
at this kind of work, and by three o’clock the motors 
were clamped in place, the cylinders installed and 
everything ready for a tryout. The current was 
turned on by twisting the left-hand grip and, as that 
controlled the entire running part, it was very 
simple. 

“My goodness. Bob,” said Jack, as he straight- 
ened up, after making the last connection, “I’ll bet 
these machines don’t weigh more than half as much 
as they did before.” 

“No, I guess they don’t. These motors are very 
light compared with the gasoline engines, and they’re 
what made the most of the weight. Now, let’s take 
them out on the road and see how they’ll go.” 

Wheeling the machines out by the basement door, 
they were soon on the road in front of the house. 

“Well, here goes,” cried Jack, jumping into the 
saddle and giving the grip a slight turn. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 147 


Off he went up the road, followed a moment 
later by Bob. The wheels ran perfectly and with 
no noise except the low humming of the motors, 
which could be heard, but a few feet away. They 
were going at about twenty-five miles an hour and 
were using but a small part of their power. 

‘‘Say, old man,” shouted Bob, as he rode up be- 
side his brother, “this is going some, eh ?” 

“It sure is,” was the reply. “It beats the old 
gasoline engines all to pieces. I wonder how fast 
they will go?” 

“Shouldn’t wonder if they would hit a hundred, 
but there’s a good stretch, let’s let ’em out a little 
and see what they’ll do.” 

Slowly twisting the grips, they increased their 
speed till Bob declared that they were going fully a 
mile a minute, which he declared was plenty fast 
enough for him. But, even then they had not used 
nearly all their power. They were delighted with 
the result of their work, and as they slowed down. 
Jack said : 

“This must be about the next thing to flying.” 

“I guess it is,” agreed Bob, “but next summer if 
father’ll let us, we’ll do some real flying. I say, 
son, do you realize what these cells will mean to an 
airplane ? Just think of the great decrease in weight 
and the increase in power.” 


148 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Sure thing,” replied Jack, no less enthusiastic- 
ally, “but we better be getting back now.” 

They had ridden some five or six miles out into 
the country and were passing through a piece of 
woods, but now brought their wheels to a stop just 
after rounding a curve in the road. 

“Yes, I guess we had better be getting back,” 
agreed Bob, “It’s nearly four now,” he added, look- 
ing at his watch. “Let’s see how long it takes us; 
we ought to make it in about eight minutes.” 

They had just started to mount their wheels, 
when they heard a shrill cry and the rapid pounding 
of a horse’s hoofs, and before they had time to ask 
themselves what it was, a light carriage, drawn by 
a spirited horse going at full gallop, dashed round 
the curve. The carriage, which was swaying from 
side to side of the road, held a young girl, and it 
was evident that she had lost control of the horse. 
So quickly had it happened, that the boys barely had 
time to get their wheels out of the way as the horse 
dashed past. 

It’s Evelyn Nason,” gasped Bob, as he recovered 
his wits, “and did you see one of the reins was 
broken? Come, we’ve got to catch her.” 

They quickly mounted their wheels and turned 
on the power, but Bob’s wheel failed to respond 
With a cry of dismay he got off, shouting to Jack, 
who was already some distance away. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 149 


‘‘Something’s wrong with my wheel; go after 
her.” 

But Jack was out of hearing and without looking 
back, he faced after the runaway, which was dash- 
ing down the road in a cloud of dust. He knew 
that about a mile farther on, there was a very steep 
hill, at the foot of which ran a wide brook, and here 
the road made a sharp turn before it led over a nar- 
row bridge. The bridge was a high one, as the 
stream ran through a deep gully, and unless the turn 
was made safely, he knew that horse and carriage 
would be dashed over a stone abutment to the 
stream, several feet below, as there was only a very 
flimsy fence by the roadside at this point. All this 
ran through Jack’s mind as he raced along, and he 
realized that if he was to do any good he must 
catch the team before it reached the top of this hill. 
Turning on still more power, he was soon almost 
flying along the road, and in a short time was along- 
side the carriage. 

As he passed it, he stood up in the saddle, leaning 
forward, his hands still grasping the handle grips. 
He was now opposite the horse’s head, and quickly 
shutting off the power, he straightened up, stood on 
the saddle, and leaped with all his might for the 
head of the maddened brute. His leap was true and 
he caught the bridle near the bit with both hands 
and hanging on with a bull-dog grip, gradually 


150 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


brought the horse to a stop right on the brow of 
the hill. 

‘T — I guess you had better get out now/’ he 
gasped, still holding the horse by the bridle. 

The girl, who was about fifteen and very pretty, 
obeyed. 

‘‘Oh, Jack,” she cried, as she got on to the ground, 
‘T never was so scared in my life, and you have 
saved me. If Prince had gone do'wn that awful 
hill Fd have been killed sure.” 

‘T guess it’s more than likely, Evelyn, but how 
did it happen ?” 

“Why, just before I got to that turn in the road, 
where you were. Prince shied at a piece of paper 
that blew across the road, and I yanked on the reins. 
One of them broke and, of course, after that I had 
no control of him, and I didn’t know what to do. 
I set out to jump, but he was going so fast that I 
didn’t dare to.” 

By this time. Bob had ridden up, having located 
the trouble with his wheel, which was only a wire 
that had slipped from a connection. 

“You got him, did you. Jack, old fellow? I 
knew you’d do it if any one could,” he shouted, as 
he dismounted. 

“Indeed he did,” said Evelyn, “and it was the 
bravest thing I ever saw. Why, he stood right up 
in the saddle and jumped! I never saw anything 
like it.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 151 

They found that a buckle where the rein was fas- 
tened to the bit had given way, and by means of 
some stout cord, which Bob had in his pocket, it 
was soon temporarily repaired. 

Evelyn Nason was a friend of the Goldens, and 
the two families were very intimate. Jack had long 
been her particular hero, and now, more than ever; 
it was natural that she should think there was none 
like him. 

'‘You’ll have to drive me back, Jack,” she now 
declared, “I’m so nervous I’d never dare to drive 
back alone.” 

“All right, wait till I turn him around.” 

The horse, which now seemed quiet enough, was 
soon turned, and Evelyn and Jack got in the car- 
riage. Bob mounted his wheel, and holding Jack’s 
by one hand, started off ahead. 

Mr. Nason was on the porch waiting for them. 
He had seen Bob riding home with Jack’s wheel, 
and naturally had asked him where his brother was, 
and Bob told him what had happened. 

As her father helped Evelyn out of the carriage, 
tears came into his eyes as he kissed her, saying : 

“Bob told me all about it, dear.” 

“Oh, papa. Jack saved my life. Wasn’t he splen- 
did?” 

“My dear boy,” cried Mr. Nason, as he grasped 
Jack’s head, “you saved my little girl and I shall 
never forget it. It was a very brave act.” 


152 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

BOB AND JACK GO ON A HUNT. 

‘‘Say, Jack, IVe got an idea,^’ said Bob that night 
after they were in bed. 

“All right, fire ahead, I’m listening. You do 
say something sensible once in a while and I’m will- 
ing to take a chance.” 

“Well, I believe we could find that house where 
I was shut up.” 

“Think so?” asked Jack, full of interest now. 

“Of course I’m not sure, but I recognized a house 
not more than seven or eight miles from it, and if 
we go there on the wheels, we could search the 
country pretty well in a short time. Let’s try it 
tomorrow. What do you say?” 

“I say yes, that is, if father will let us, and what’s 
more, we’ll find it, too, if they haven’t lugged it off. 
We have to be mighty careful though, for those 
fellows may be in hiding there.” 

At the breakfast table, the next morning, Bob 
announced their plan, but Mr. Golden shook his 
head. 


AND THElll NEW ELECTRIC CELL 153 


afraid you’ll get into trouble/’ he declared. 

‘"But,” argued Jack, ‘Sve ought to do something 
toward finding those fellows and, if we can locate 
the house, we can have it searched by officers and 
have them nabbed if they are there.” 

Mr. Golden finally consented, but made them 
promise that they would be very careful and not run 
any risks. Getting the cook to put them up a good 
lunch, they were soon ready to start. 

‘‘That house,” explained Bob, as they rode along 
side by side, “can’t be many miles this side of Oak- 
land. We’ll go to Waterville first and then cross 
over to Oakland, then we’ll take the road to Nor- 
ridgewock and look for that woods road. I sup- 
pose we might go by the way of Norridgewock. 
It would be shorter, but I guess the roads are better 
the other way.” 

The road to Skowhegan was rough and mostly 
down hill, and they did not dare to run very fast, 
but once outside the latter town, on the road to 
Waterville, they let the machines out and reached 
the city in forty-five minutes from the time they left 
home. As they rode through the city, people stared 
in amazement at them as they failed to hear the 
customary chug-chug of the engine. 

They made no stop and were soon in Oakland, 
a little village about three miles to the west of Wa- 
terville. Here they stopped at a drug store for a 
glass of soda water, as the ride had made them 


154 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


thirsty. When they came out, they found that sev- 
eral people had collected and were examining the 
wheels. 

‘‘Say, bub, what kind of an engine you got here?’^ 
asked one man. 

Now neither of the boys liked being called “bub, 
but they had been taught to be polite, and Jack 
explained that it was an electric motor. 

“Well — well, I want to know ! How do you run 

itr 

“Oh, that’s a secret,” laughed Bob, as they got 
into the saddles and rode off. 

In about fifteen minutes they reached the house 
which Bob had recognized, and turning to his 
brother, he said : 

“Now, Jack, here’s where our search begins. It 
can’t be very far from here and as it’s only ten 
o’clock now, we’ve got several hours to hunt.” 

“Wouldn’t it be a good plan to inquire at the 
house and see if they know anything about the 
place ?” 

“Not a bad idea,” agreed Bob,, getting off his 
wheel and running it into the yard. Telling Jack, 
who had followed him, to hold the cycles he 
knocked on the door. A slovenly looking woman 
answered the knock, and when he explained their 
errand, she gave a sudden start and said rather 
gruffly : 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 155 


“No, I don’t know of no such place.” and shut 
the door in his face. 

“I’ll just bet my old hat that she does, all the 
same,” declared Bob, as he rejoined his brother, 
then as the latter agreed with him, he added : 

“I guess we better not make any more inquiries 
round here; some of these people may be in league 
with those fellows.” 

Mounting, they proceeded and had gone only 
about a mile, when they came to where the road 
forked. 

“Any idea which is the right road?” asked Jack, 
as he stopped his wheel and dismounted. 

“Not an idea. Guess we’ll flip a penny. Heads 
to the right, tails to the left, here goes.” 

Heads it was, so they started off to the right. 
It was a fairly smooth road, so they made pretty 
good speed for about three miles, when Bob said: 

“Now we’d better slow up a little and begin to 
look carefully. If we’re on the right track that 
road can’t be a great ways from here, and it may 
be nearer than I think.” 

“Do you know which side of the road it is?” 

“Yes, it’s to our right. Now let’s ride on slowly 
and keep our eyes peeled.” 

Much of the way was through thick woods, and 
as they rode slowly along, they closely scanned the 
woods to their right, watching for a woods road. 
They had gone on in this way for several miles. 


15G 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


when suddenly, they came out of a thick piece of 
woods. So far, they had seen nothing that in any- 
way resembled what they were after, but, about a 
mile farther on. Jack spied a rough road leading 
through a field to the right. 

‘‘Suppose that’s it ?” he asked, bringing his wheel 
to a stop. 

“No, that can’t be it, because I’m sure that it was 
in the woods, for I remember hearing the branches 
hit the top of the car all the way along till we got 
out where we turned into the main road, and an- 
other thing, I remember just before we turned, the 
car giving a terrific lurch as though we had crossed 
a good-sized gully beside the road, and you see, 
there’s no such place here. No, this is not the 
road and we might as well go on.” 

They rode on for several miles, part of the time 
passing through woods, when they went slowly, and 
again through the open, where they speeded up. 
Finally, about eleven-thirty. Bob stopped his wheel 
and said: 

“I guess we’ve taken the wrong road and might 
as well go back and try the other one.” 

To this Jack agreed, and by the time they reached 
the forks of the road, it was noon, and as they saw 
a small spring near the roadside, they decided to 
eat their lunch before going on. They had just fin- 
ished, when they saw a farmer, followed by a huge 
mastiff, coming toward them. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 157 


“Gee, Bob, just look at the size of that dog, will 
you ?” 

“He sure is some dog all right,” replied Bob. 
“I wouldn't want to meet him when he wasn't feel- 
ing in a good humor.'' 

By this time the man was within speaking dis- 
tance. 

“Say, young fellers, what yer want round here?'' 
he asked in a harsh tone, while his manner was most 
offensive. 

“Why,” asked Bob, pleasantly, “do you own this 
road?” 

“Now don't you get gay with me, young feller.” 

“No one's getting gay; you asked me a question 
and I asked you one. Now, as you asked yours 
first. I'll answer it and then you can do as you 
please about answering mine, but I think we have 
a right here in the public road without being growled 
at. Now then, we are taking a ride on our wheels 
seeing the country.” 

The farmer looked rather uneasy while Bob was 
talking. 

“Huh, mebby so, but yer the fellers what stopped 
at my house down the road here a bit, 'bout two 
hours ago, and was asking the old woman some- 
thing about a house what was hid in the woods, 
hain’t yer?” 

“Yes, we did stop and make an inquiry,” replied 
Bob. “Anything wrong about that ?” 


158 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


*‘Mebby not, only they hain’t any sech place 
round here and yer needn't go to hunting for any.” 

“Well,” asked Jack, laughing slightly, “if there's 
no such place where's the harm in our looking for 
it?” 

The farmer perceived that he had made a slip, 
and grumbling something about fool kids poking 
their noses round where they had no business, he 
started off up the road to the right, the dog follow- 
ing close behind. 

“Well, well, the plot thickens, as the hero says in 
the play. Jack, that man knows something about 
that place, and what's more, he don't want us to 
know anything about it.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 159 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THEY FIND THE HOUSE BUT LOSE A CAP. 

As soon as the farmer disappeared, the boys 
started off once more, taking the left-hand road. 
After riding five or six miles, they entered a thick 
woods and about a half a mile farther on they came 
to a bridge, leading over a small, shallow stream. 
This bridge had been newly repaired as they could 
see that the plank flooring had been but little used. 

‘‘By jimminy, but I believe weTe getting warm 
now,” cried Bob, as he stopped his wheel on the 
bridge. “See where the road leads down through 
the brook there?” 

“Yes,” replied Jack leaning over the rail. “They 
must have crossed that way while the bridge was 
being fixed. But what of it?” 

“Just this of it. I remember that just a few min- 
utes after we turned into the main road that night, 
the machine suddenly stopped and then turned 
down a very rough, steep place just like this, and 
after going a few feet, came back into the road 
again, and I’ll bet my cap that this is the place. 


160 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Funny I didn’t think of it before, for this bridge 
brought it to my mind. They hadn’t taken the 
blindfold off then, so, of course, I couldn’t see any- 
thing, but, this is the place sure as guns, and that 
road can’t be more than a mile off.” 

‘‘Well, come on,” urged Jack, impatiently, as he 
mounted his wheel, “we’ll soon find it if you’re 
right.” 

They rode on slowly, closely watching the right- 
hand side of the road and had not gone quite a mile 
when Jack’s keen eyes spied a slight break in the 
thick trees. 

“Hurrah !” he called, “here’s something that looks 
promising”; and then as Bob came up, “there’s your 
woods road and there’s your gully.” 

“I believe you’re right, now what had we better 
do?” 

“How far do you think the house is from the 
road ?” 

“Not more than a third of a mile I should say. 
Now I don’t think we’d better take the wheels in 
there, because the road is so rough that if we should 
have to make a quick getaway, we could go much 
faster without them.” 

“Then let’s hide them in the bushes and hoof it,” 
proposed Jack. 

“I kinder hate to leave them, but I guess it’s 
the best way out. Come on.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 161 


They led the motorcycles along the woods road 
for perhaps a dozen yards and then turned off into 
the thick wood to the left, and after pushing along 
about two rods, Bob suddenly said : 

‘There’s just the place, right by that birch tree. 
The bushes in front there are so thick that no one 
can see them.” 

Pushing on they carefully hid them there and 
then turned back to the road. 

‘T don’t think we’d better follow the road,” ad- 
vised Bob, “for we might meet some one. Let’s go 
parallel to it, but through the woods a little to the 
left.” This they did and had gone about a quarter 
of a mile when Jack whispered : 

“Say Bob, do you know we left the caps on the 
wheels ?” 

“Gracious, that’s so; think we’d better go back 
and get them?” 

“Oh, I guess they’ll be all right; we must be most 
there now. Let’s risk it.” 

So they pushed on, and had gone but a little far- 
ther, when Bob, peering through the trees, saw an 
opening in the woods, and a moment later a low 
two-story log house, standing on the farther edge, 
was visible. Jack was a few feet behind and, plac- 
ing his finger on his lips, Bob motioned him to 
come on. 

“That the place, sure as guns,” he whispered. 


1G2 THE GOLDEN BOYS 

‘‘Right out in front here is where I had that fight 
with Reed.” 

“Guess youVe right, but I don't see any signs of 
life there, do you ?” 

“No, but we’ll camp down here a while and 
watch.” 

Bob had hardly spoken, when they heard a low 
growl a little to their left. 

“Goodness, there’s a dog,” whispered Jack, and 
the next moment a huge mastiff, similar to the one 
they had seen with the farmer, sprang toward them. 

“Quick, Bob, your pistol” gasped Jack. 

The boys always carried water pistols, loaded 
with strong ammonia water, when they went off on 
their motorcycles, and- now they were to stand them 
in good stead. As Jack spoke, he jumped back, 
reaching for his pistol, which he carried in his back 
pocket, but before he could get it out the dog was 
upon him. Quickly thrusting forward his left arm, 
the dog caught him by the elbow, but the stout can- 
vas, of which their jackets were made, prevented the 
sharp teeth from going through. By this time^ 
Bob had his pistol out, and stepping forward, he 
shot the contents fairly into the face of the enraged 
beast. He let go his hold and with a loud yelp of 
pain, sprang backward, and began wildly clawing 
the dirt and leaves. 

“Did he bite you. Jack?” asked Bob anxiously. 

“Nope, nary a bite, you were too quick for him. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 163 


But I think we’d beter hike out of here. If there’s 
anybody in that house, they must have heard that 
howl, and will likely investigate.” 

‘That’s right, you know we promised mother 
not to run any risks; come on.” 

Hastily they began to retrace their steps, but as 
there were no signs of pursuit, they soon slowed up 
a little. 

“Don’t believe there was a soul there,” panted 
Jack, “but we found the house and that’s one good 
job done anyhow, and I guess we’d better be con- 
tent with that for today, but I would have liked to 
take a peep in that house.” 

By this time, they were in sight of the tree where 
they had left the wheels, but, when they hurried 
forward to drag them out, to their great consterna- 
tion, no wheels were there. 

“Jerusalem!” gasped Bob, “they’re gone!” 

“Well, what do you know about that?” echoed 
Jack. “If this isn’t a pretty kettle of fish! Are 
you sure this was the place ?” 

“’Course it is. Here’s the big birch tree and you 
can see where the bushes are trampled down. Oh, 
if we’d only taken those caps with us! But come 
on, we mustn’t stand here doing nothing. We’ve 
got to get those wheels back, and let’s hurry out 
to the road and see if we can see anything of them.” 

As they hurried along. Bob continued, “If King 
or Reed spotted us I guess it’s all up, but it may be 


164 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


that some country lout saw us leave ’em there and 
has swiped ’em. If that’s the case, we may get ’em 
back.” 

“We’ll do our best anyhow,” panted Jack, as they 
raced along. 

They soon reached the main road, and quickly 
looked both ways, but nothing of the wheels was 
to be seen. 

For a moment the two boys looked at each other 
in helpless despair, then Jack, casting his eyes on the 
ground, said: 

“Here, quick. Bob, see here’s their tracks.” 

Sure enough, in the dusty road the tracks of two 
wheels, leading in the direction from which they 
had come, were plainly visible. 

“See, here’s our tracks on this side of the road 
and there’s the others,” and a second later he added, 
“There’s only one fellow; see where he walked be- 
tween ’em.” 

“Right you are, Sherlock,” shouted Bob, “come 
on now, on the run.” 

They set off at a rapid pace, their hopes away 
up. They ran nearly two miles, both being in good 
training, before they saw any one, then as they 
rounded a turn, they saw the object of their pursuit, 
walking rapidly about two hundred yards ahead of 
them, between the two wheels. 

“Come on now as fast as you can leg it,” said 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 1G5 


Bob, ‘'Let's get as near him as we can before he 
sees us.” 

They were within two hundred feet of the thief, 
when he turned and saw them. 

“Hey, you, drop those wheels!” shouted Jack. 

The man hesitated a minute and then dropped 
the wheels on the road and, springing to one side, 
started off across a field at the top of his speed. 
In another minute they had reached the wheels, and 
with a cry of joy. Jack grabbed his up saying: 

“Guess we're in luck again.” But the next mo- 
ment his spirits were dashed, when Bob suddenly 
cried : 

“Look, Jack, he's taken one of my caps.” Then, 
before Jack could speak, he said : “You look out for 
this wheel, Tm going after that chap.” 

The man by this time was some distance away 
and running as fast as he could go, but Bob re- 
membered that a little farther along a road branched 
off to the left, and hoping to cut him off, he jumped 
on Jack's wheel and fairly flew down the road in a 
cloud of dust. Coming to the branch road he 
turned and had ridden but a short distance when he 
saw the man climbing a fence, beside the road, just 
a little ahead. So quietly did the wheel run that 
Bob was nearly upon him before he was aware of 
his presence. He was a tall fellow, about twenty 
years old, dressed in overalls. Seeing that Bob 
was alone, he made no further attempt to escape, 


166 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


but stood in the middle of the road panting, as Bob 
came up. 

Stopping the wheel and jumping off, he de- 
manded : 

“See here, what do you mean by taking our 
wheels 

.f 

“Huh, don’t yer wish yer knew? What yer go- 
ing ter do about it anyhow ?” he asked with a sneer. 

“Well, replied Bob slowly, “you’ve taken a cap 
off one of the machines and if you give it to me at 
once, there’ll be no trouble, but if you don’t, why 
I’ll just naturally have to take it away from you, 
sonny.” 

The tall youth laughed loudly, then stepping 
closer to Bob, shook his fist in his face, saying : 

‘I’m not saying I got the cap, but, if you think 
I have, mebby you’d better pitch in right now ’fore 
you forgit it.” 

Bob knew that the country youth was much 
stronger than he, as he was all of thirty pounds 
heavier, but he had taken several lessons in wrest- 
ling and boxing, and also was familiar with a num- 
ber of the holds of the Japanese which had been 
taught him by a Jap friend. He therefore felt con- 
fident of his ability to handle the country boy, unless 
he had a similar training, which he doubted. 

“Won’t give it to me then?” asked Bob. 

“Give yer nothing,” the farmer boy started to 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 167 


answer, but before he had time to finish, Bob had 
made a rush and grabbed him round the waist. 

“Easy now or you’ll be apt to get hurt,” he said, 
as he clasped his arms round Bob’s shoulders. 

This was exactly what Bob wanted, and giving 
a sudden twist to his body, he exerted all his 
strength, and threw the fellow fairly over his head. 
He came down with a heavy thud and was probably 
more surprised than he had ever been before in his 
life. He was not hurt, however, and quickly jump- 
ing to his feet, he made a wild rush for Bob, shout- 
ing: 

“I’ll fix you for that, you blamed dude.” 

He was more careful this time, however, and for 
two or three minutes they sparred, neither being 
able to strike a decisive blow. Bob found that the 
fellow was by no means ignorant of the art of box- 
ing, as he soon got a blow on the nose, which made 
it bleed freely, but as one of his opponent’s eyes 
were closed, he felt that he was at least holding his 
own. 

“Blame yer. I’ll get yer now,” and the fellow 
aimed a powerful blow at Bob’s head. If he had 
landed, his words would undoubtedly have come 
true, but Bob jumped nimbly to one side, and the 
country boy nearly fell forward from the impetus 
of his blow. Bob saw his chance, and quickly jump- 
ing forward, he grabbed him round the neck and, 
getting his knee in the small of his back, he pulled 


1G8 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


his head backward, a trick he had learned from the 

Jap. 

“Gosh amighty, yer breaking my neck/’ gasped 
the fellow, now absolutely helpless, and the more he 
struggled, the more Bob’s grip hurt. 

Bob knew that he had him at his mercy, and free- 
ing one arm, while he held him tightly with the 
other, he reached into the pocket of his overalls, 
and to his joy, pulled out the stolen cap. But his 
troubles were not yet over, for just then he heard 
the sound of rapidly approaching steps, and turn- 
ing, he saw the farmer, who had questioned them 
that noon coming towards them on the run and only 
about one hundred feet away. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 169 


CHAPTER XX. 

BOB AND JACK RETURN FROM THE HUNT. 

As Bob saw the farmer coming, he had to do some 
pretty quick thinking, for it was evident that he was 
hostile to him for some unknown reason, and he did 
not intend to fall into his power if he could help 
it. Fortunately, he had left his motorcycle stand- 
ing in the road, about ten feet away in the opposite 
direction from which the farmer was approaching. 
Giving the man he was holding a powerful shove, 
which sent him sprawling into the ditch by the road- 
side, he made a quick rush for the wheel, snapped 
up the rest and, giving the handle a slight turn, 
vaulted into the saddle. But he was just a fraction 
of a second too late, for as he started off, the farmer 
caught him by the coat tail. He had presence of 
mind to turn off the power before the wheel fell 
over sideways, and springing to the side, stood fac- 
ing the farmer. 

‘‘Now, you young cub, what does all this mean 

Bob had a habit of acting on the impulse of the 
moment, and before the farmer had time to put 


170 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


up his hands, biff! he was lying on his back in the 
middle of the road. By this time the younger man 
had picked himself from the gutter, and hastily run- 
ning forward, bent over the fallen man, who Bob 
thought was probably his father. 

‘I’ll have the law on yer for this,” he shouted. 
“I guess yer’ve killed him.” 

“Will, eh?” said Bob, stepping forward. 

His fighting blood was now at red heat, and he 
felt able to fight a dozen men. “Well, if you feel 
like taking the law into your hands, come on, and 
I’ll give you one of the most interesting little pic- 
nics you ever saw. I was only playing before.” 

But he had evidently had enough, for he made no 
move toward reopening hostilities. 

“All right then, guess I’ll be going. By the way, 
your father’ll come round all right in a minute. I 
didn’t hit him very hard.” 

Just then the farmer gave a groan and opened 
his eyes, saying feebly: 

“Laws amighty, did a mule kick me?” 

Bob waited no longer, but, picking up his wheel, 
rode off unmolested. Just as he reached the cor- 
ner where the road joined the main highway, he met 
Jack trudging along pushing his wheel. 

“Well, old man,” he shouted, “Mow’d you make 
out? Did you get it?” 

“Did I get it?” repeated Bob, reaching his hand 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 171 


in his pocket, and pulling out the cap. “What do 
you say to this?’’ 

“I say it’s great luck.” 

“You may think so, but quite considerable of a 
fight had a good deal to do with it. Look at my 
nose. But,” he laughed, “you ought to see the other 
fellow.” 

By this time he had screwed the cap in place. 

“Come on,” he said, “let’s ride back a little way. 
Something back here I want to show you.” 

“What is it?” asked Jack as they mounted and 
started back. 

“Oh, nothing much, only the road jumped up and 
hit a fellow on the back of the head a few minutes 
ago and I want to see how he’s getting along. There 
are two of them, but I don’t think there’s much 
fight left in either.” 

He explained what had happened, as they rode 
along, and as he finished, they came in sight of 
Bob’s late antagonists. The older man was just 
staggering to his feet, and riding up to within about 
twenty feet, Bob said pleasantly: 

“Came round all right, did he?” 

He turned and let out such a string of oaths as the 
boys had never before heard. When he stopped for 
lack of breath. Bob said : 

“If that’s the way you feel about it, I guess the 
less said the better, and we’ll bid you good night. 
Come on. Jack.” 


172 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


They turned and rode slowly away turning their 
heads just in time to see both men shaking their 
fists at them. 

“Well, that chapter is ended,'' remarked Jack, 
as they rode off. “Wonder what the next one will 
be like. We've certainly had some excitement 
since we made those cells." 

“That's so," agreed Bob, looking at his watch. 
“It's after three now, and we’d better make tracks 
for home. You know mother will begin to worry 
about four o'clock if we're not there." 

The road to Skowhegan, five miles down the Ken- 
nebec, was very sandy, and it was impossible for 
them to make good time. It was four-fifteen when 
they crossed the bridge in Skowhegan, but they 
made up for lost time on the run up to the lake and 
reached the cottage just as the clock was striking 
four-thirty. 

All the folks were on the porch, including their 
father and Uncle Ben, who had come up from town 
in the car, a short time before. The story of the 
day's adventures was soon told, and Mr. Golden de- 
clared that on the morrow they would get some of- 
ficers and visit the log house in the woods. 

“Well, I declare!" said May. “You two boys 
do beat all when it comes to getting into scrapes 
and getting out of them again. It must be lots 
of fun. Wish I was a boy." 

“That's all right as long as you do get out all 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 173 


'right/’ remarked Jack a little dryly, ‘‘but there 
wouldn’t have been so much fun to some of the 
messes we’ve been in lately if they hadn’t turned 
out as they did. Please excuse me.” 

‘‘Come on, Bob,” shouted Jack, “that lake looks 
good to me. We’ve got just time for a good swim 
before supper.” 

The girls both declared it would be just the thing, 
and all four rushed into the house and upstairs, to 
reappear in an incredibly short time clad in bath- 
ing suits. The girls could both swim nearly as 
well as the boys, and soon they were having a splen- 
did time in the clear water of the lake. They 
swam and dived, ducking each other whenever op- 
portunity offered, until Mrs. Golden called that it 
was time to get dressed for supper. 

The next morning, while they were at breakfast, 
the telephone rang and Mr. Golden went into the 
front room to answer it. 

“What’s that you say?” they heard him ask, 
“Mercy, is that so? I’ll come right down, be there 
in less than a half hour.” 

When he returned to the dining room, his face 
was pale and his voice trembled, as he said: 

“Bob, get the car out as soon as possible; the 
bank has been robbed.” 

“Robbed!” cried Mrs. Golden, as they all sprang 
to their feet. “How much did they get?” 


174 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘1 don’t know, I don’t suppose they can tell yet, 
but Riggs said it was a large amount.” 

By this time the boys were at the garage, only 
a short distance from the house, and shouting to 
Sandy, the chauffeur, had the car out by the time 
their father and Uncle Ben were ready. 

‘Uan we go ?” asked Bob. 

“Why, yes, I suppose so, but you’ll get there 
sooner if you take your wheels. You coming, 
Ben?” 

“Guess I will,” replied the latter, and telling the 
women that they would ’phone as soon as they could, 
they were off, the boys leading the way on the 
motorcycles. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 175 


CHAPTER XXI. 

BOB AND JACK THINK THEY HAVE A CLUE. 

The First National Bank of Skowhegan, of 
which Mr. Golden was president, is situated on 
Water street. Behind it runs the Kennebec river 
through a rock gorge, nearly fifty feet deep. At 
the time of our story, the bank building was new, 
having been built only the year before. It was 
thoroughly modern in every respect, and contained 
what was supposed to be a burglar-proof vault. 

The boys soon distanced the car and in exactly 
eleven minutes from the time they started were 
in front of the bank. They found a crowd of sev- 
eral hundred people collected in the street, for such 
a thing as a bank robbery in Skowhegan had never 
been known, and there was great excitement. Hur- 
riedly, they pushed the wheels into a livery stable 
nearby, which was run by a friend of theirs, and 
then pushing their way through the crowd, man- 
aged to reach the sidewalk, in front of the bank, 
but here the people were so closely packed, that 
they were forced to stop. 


17G 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


‘‘Guess we^ll have to wait for dad/^ panted Jack, 
after a vigorous shove had failed to make an open- 
ing. 

“Gee, but this is worse than a football game,’’ 
declared Bob, “but here’s dad now,” as a big po- 
liceman pushed his way through the crowd shout- 
ing: 

“Stand back now and let Mr. Golden through” 

The mass of people slowly gave way, and Mr. 
Golden, followed closely by Bob and Jack, who 
had grabbed hold of his coat tails as he pushed his 
way past, finally succeeded in reaching the steps of 
the bank. The door was at once opened by Mr. 
Riggs, the old cashier, and Mr. Golden and Uncle 
Ben, who was with them, entered closely followed 
by the two boys. 

“Oh, to think that I should live to see this day!” 
moaned the cashier, as he closed and locked the 
door behind them. 

“How did they get in?” was Mr. Golden’s first 
question. 

The cashier pointed to the door and a glance was 
sufficient to disclose the means of entrance. Two 
doors, separated by a small vestibule, led into the 
bank. The outer door was fitted with a heavy plate 
glass window, but the inner one was of solid oak. 
This had been cut through by means of a bit, and 
a hole about twenty inches in diameter sawed out. 
A similar opening had been made in the glass of 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 177 


the outer door, a circular piece having been cut out, 
evidently with a diamond, and then cemented back 
in again so cleverly, that it was not noticeable ex- 
cept on close inspection. 

Going to the vault at the rear of the bank, they 
found an irregular hole, nearly sixteen inches in 
diameter, through the solid steel door. The edges 
of this hole had a fused appearance, and Mr. Golden 
at once said: 

‘‘Undoubtedly the work of experts, and they must 
have used an oxy-acteylene blowpipe flame to cut 
through that door.’^ 

Bob had been doing some pretty deep thinking 
and now he caught hold of his father’s sleeve and 
said : 

“Of course, I may be a way off, but I believe that 
those fellows who kidnapped me are the ones who 
did this job.'’ 

“I think so, too," broke in Jack, “We know that 
they are criminals and what were they doing round 
here if they weren't up to some such job? You 
see," he continued, as his father was about to speak, 
“they didn’t come here after those cells, because 
they didn’t know anything about them till they saw 
the boat the day of the race. I believe they in- 
tended to rob the bank in the first place and then 
they saw our boat and thought that if they could 
get hold of our secret, it would pay them better 


178 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


than this job. That's the way IVe got it dopevl 
out." 

“And I believe Jack's right, dad," broke in Bob. 
“Something I heard that man Reed say just after 
they got me in the car that night has just come to 
me. I didn’t think much of it at the time; it has 
never occurred to me till just now." 

“What was it?" eagerly asked Mr. Golden. 

“Why, we had gone but a little ways when I 
heard Reed say, in a low voice. ‘How about that 
other job, Bill?’ and King replied angrily, ‘Shut up, 
you fool !' Then as Reed started to say something, 
he whispered, ‘That can wait awhile; it won’t 
spoil.' ” 

“I really believe the boys are right," declared 
Uncle Ben. “There is little doubt in my mind that 
when you get those two men you will have the 
robbers of this bank." 

“I’ll tell you what," broke in Bob, “if those two 
fellows did it. I’ll bet a cent they’ll go straight to 
the place where they took me, that we found yester- 
day. You see they think no one knows about it 
and that they will be safe there.” 

“Then we’d better get some officers and get after 
them as quickly as possible," declared Uncle Ben. 

“I guess we might as well try it," assented Mr. 
Golden, “seeing it’s the only clue we have. Mr. 
Ki'ggs, see if Mr. Switzer is out there and if he is, 
have him come in, will you?" 


AND THEIK NEW ELECTiUC CELL 179 


The cashier disappeared, but was back almost 
immediately, followed by a powerfully built man 
about forty years old, the chief of police of Skow- 
hegan. 

‘‘Hello, Switzer, glad you were at hand,’’ cried 
Mr. Golden. 

“Just got here,” panted the officer, who appeared 
nearly out of breath. “I went over to Smithfield 
fishing early this morning and didn’t know about 
it till I got there, and then I hustled back as fast 
as I could.” 

It may be well to explain here, that Skowhegan 
does not have a regular police force who give all 
their time to it. Mr. Switzer, besides being chief, 
was a butcher, and the rest of the force, consisting 
of five men, held different positions in the town. 

Mr. Golden quickly pointed out what has been 
described, and then told him of Bob’s suspicion. 

“Just the thing to do ” he declared. “George and 
Fred are outside anr’ i’ll get them and we’ll start 
at once.” 

“We’ll go in i car,” said Mr. Golden. “I guess 
it’s as fast as any in town, and will carry six of us 
all right, and the boys can go on their wheels, can’t 
you. Bob?” 

“Sure thing,” the both replied. 

“All right then, that’s settled. Now let’s get off 
as soon as possible. My car is right over there on 
the corner.” 


180 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


They went out and Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben 
at once made their way to the car, while Mr. Swit- 
zer searched through the crowd for his officers. 
Bob and Jack hurried to where they had left their 
w'heels and were back at the corner in almost no 
time, where they were soon joined by the three 
officers. 

‘'Now, where to?'’ asked the chief, as he took 
his seat by the driver. 

“Norridgewock first," answered Bob, as he 
jumped into his saddle, and he added, as he turned 
on the power, “here's where we break all the speed 
laws ever made." 

“You boys keep within sight of us," shouted Mr. 
Golden, as they dashed across the bridge. 

In spite of the bad road, they reached Norridge- 
wock in nineteen minutes. On the way, Mr. Gol- 
den told Uncle Ben and the officers that Riggs had 
said that nearly one hundred thousand dollars in 
cash and negotiable securities had been taken. 

They made no stop at Norridgewock, but at once 
took the road leading to Oakland. Here the going 
was much better and in a little less than half an 
hour after leaving Norridgewock, they were within 
a mile of the woods road, which led to the big house. 
The boys were about a quarter of a mile ahead of 
the car and stopped here to wait for the rest of the 
party. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 181 


“Are we ’most there?” asked Mr. Golden, as the 
car came up to them and stopped. 

“Yes, it’s only about a mile from here, and I 
thought we’d better stop before we got any nearer, 
and make our plans,” explained Bob. 

“My idea,” said Mr. Switzer, “is to leave the car 
by the side of the main road and go the rest of the 
way on foot. You see,” he explained, “if we took 
it too close they would hear it and skip, that is, 
providing they’re there.” 

All agreed that this was the best plan. 

“Now, Bob,” asked the chief, “how far from the 
main road is that house?” 

“I should say a little more than a quarter of a 
mile.” 

“And how large is the clearing round it?” 

“At the back the trees grow up close to the house, 
but in front there is a clearing of perhaps half an 
acre.” 

“Then, three of us had better get round to the 
back of the house, while the rest approach it from 
the front. George, you and Bob and Mr. Golden,” 
indicating Uncle Ben, “can circle round and get 
behind. The rest of us will give you plenty of 
time to get there and then we’ll go up to the house 
and demand admittance.” 

To this plan all agreed, and they started again, 
the boys keeping just in front of the car. They had 


182 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


gone about a mile, when Bob held up his hand for 
them to stop. 

‘‘See that big elm just ahead there?” he asked, 
pointing with his finger. “Well, the road is about 
ten feet the other side of that tree.” 

But just then something happened which caused 
a complete change in their plans. 


AND THEIK NEW ELECTRIC CELL 183 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE CHASE. 

Bob and Jack were a few feet ahead of the others, 
when the former suddenly stopped. 

‘'Don’t you hear that motor, Jack?” 

“I do now, and I believe it’s a car coming out 
that woods road.” 

The rest of the party had now joined the boys, 
and the sound of the approaching car was plainly 
audible. 

“That must be them,” said Bob in a low voice. 
“Now what’d we better do?” 

“We’ll hide in the bushes on each side of the 
road,” proposed Mr. Switzer, “and when they come 
along, we’ll jump out and stop ’em. You all got 
guns ?” 

It turned out that only the policemen had revol- 
vers, so the chief, Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben hid 
on one side of the woods road, while the other two 
policemen and the boys concealed themselves on the 
other.” 

“Now,” whispered the chief, “don’t make a sound 


184 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


till I tell ’em to stop, then you cover ’em with your 
guns and if they try to get away, let ’em have it, 
but don’t shoot to kill if you can help it ’cause we 
want to get those fellows alive if we can.” 

Nothing more was said and in a few minutes 
the car was near at hand, as they could tell by the 
sound, and, peering through the bushes. Bob spied 
a large car coming slowly along the road. Two 
men were on the front seat. 

“I believe that’s King driving,” whispered Bob, 
‘Though he’s shaved off his beard.” 

At that instant. Chief Switzer sprang out into the 
middle of the road in front of the car, closely fol- 
lowed by Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben, while the 
other policemen and the boys followed suit from 
their side. 

“Halt, in the name of the law,” shouted the chief, 
flourishing his revolver. 

The car was about ten feet from them as the order 
was given, and instead of obeying, the driver sud- 
denly put on high speed and the car shot toward 
them. So quickly was it done that they had barely 
time to save themselves from being run down by 
jumping to one side as the car shot by and turned 
into the main road heading toward Oakland. 

“Gosh, they’ll get away sure as thunder,” shouted 
Switzer, as he fired his revolver after the vanishing 
car. “Come on, we’ve got to chase them.” 

It took them but an instant to reach the road and. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 185 


to their delight, they, fotind that Sandy, seeing the 
car come out, had brought their machine up. 

‘Tile in, quick,*' shouted the chief, but although 
they obeyed as quickly as possible, the fugitives 
were nearly a half mile ahead when they started. 

The boys rushed to where they had left their 
wheels, about a hundred feet away, and by the time 
they reached them and mounted they were quite a 
distance in the rear. 

“Now, let 'em out," shouted Jack, as he sprang 
into the saddle, and turning on the power, fairly 
flew down the road closely followed by Bob, and 
before they had gone a mile, they were up with 
their father’s car. 

“Fm afraid we're going to lose 'em," they heard 
the chief say, as they drew up, one on each side of 
the car. “We're not gaining an inch. Getting all 
the speed you can out of her, Sandy?" 

“I've got her wide open," was the reply. 

Bob knew that there was a long, steep hill to as- 
cend a little farther on and hoped that they would 
gain on them there, as his father's car was a splen- 
did hill climber and he had a few weeks before 
taken that same hill on high gear. A moment 
later, as they swung round a curve, the hill was at 
hand, and Bob shouted to Sandy telling him not 
to shift. 

They could see the robber's car about half way 
up the hill, and going slowly, evidently on low gear. 


186 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


Sandy hit the foot of the hill at a terrific pace and, 
as the car went up on high gear, they could see that 
they were gaining rapidly. But the robbers had 
too great a start and reached the top several hun- 
dred yards ahead. The road was now slightly down 
hill for a mile or more, and they could see that, 
under the reckless driving of the robber, whose car 
must have been making nearly seventy miles an 
hour, they were rapidly losing ground, for Mr. Gol- 
den had told Sandy not to go faster than he con- 
sidered safe. 

‘T want to catch them as badly as any one, but 
I'm not going to risk killing all of us to do it,” he 
declared. 

^‘He'll wreck his car and break their necks, sure 
as fate, if he don’t slow up,” thought Bob. 

But the robbers reached the foot of the hill in 
safety and had gained all the ground they had lost 
in climbing the hill. For a number of miles now, 
the road was fairly level and the race continued 
without much change in their relative distance. 

The two boys were now riding a little behind the 
car, and suddenly Jack turned to Bob, saying : 

‘T say. Bob, we’re never going to catch ’em at 
this rate.” 

‘‘Don’t look like it. They’ve sure got some 
speedy car, and of course they’re reckless about 
driving.” 

Just then they reached the outskirts of Oakland, 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 187 


and, as they had to stop to inquire which way the 
robbers had gone, they lost sill more ground. 
Quickly learning, however, that they had taken a 
road which would probably lead them, by a round- 
about way to Portland, they told their informant to 
tell the police to telephone to the latter city to be 
on the watch for them, and again took up in the 
chase. 

As they started off. Bob said to Jack : 

'‘Say, Jack, we could catch 'em easily on these 
wheels." 

"Sure we could, we've been running only about 
half speed, but what good would it do? We 
couldn't stop 'em, could we?" 

"Perhaps not, but my idea is this. Let's get a 
couple of revolvers from the policemen and ride up 
behind them and see if we can't put a hole in one 
of their tires." 

"Good," shouted Jack, "Come on, let's go get 
em. 

Putting on more power, as they had lagged be- 
hind a little, while they were talking, they quickly 
overtook the car. 

"Hey, there," shouted Jack, as they rode up along 
side, "Give us a couple of your revolvers and we'll 
try to shoot a hole in their tire." 

"Think you can do it?" asked the chief, leaning 
out of the car. 


188 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Don’t know, but we can try it. You’ll never 
catch ’em at this rate and it’s the only chance I see.” 

“All right, here you are,” answered the chief, 
leaning out and handing each of the boys a revol- 
ver. “Go get ’em. But you look sharp, now. 
Those fellows are probably armed and won’t hesi- 
tate to shoot if they are cornered.” 

“Yes, boys,” joined in Mr. Golden, “don’t you 
get too close to them.” 

“We’ll be careful,” replied Bob. “Come on. 
Jack, now let her out and we’ll show them some real 
speed,” and as they turned on the power, they rap- 
idly left the car behind. 

But they had lost more ground than they thought, 
and they rode for fully six miles before catching 
sight of the robbers, and had begun to fear that 
they had lost them. But, finally they caught sight 
of the car about a half mile ahead, and giving the 
motors a little more current, they rapidly crept up 
till they were within two hundred yeards of them. 

Suddenly, they saw the man who was not driv- 
ing, turn his head, and as he saw them, he said 
something to his companion, and then, turning in 
his seat, he drew his revolver. 

“He is going to shoot,” shouted Jack, and the 
next instant a shot rang out followed by several 
others. But, the swaying car made accurate shoot- 
ing impossible, and he emptied the chamber without 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 189 

doing any harm, although Bob heard one bullet whiz 
past his head. 

“He couldn’t hit a barn at the rate he’s going,” 
shouted Jack. “Come on, let’s get a little nearer 
and then we’ll try our hand at it.” 

They waited till they were within about one hun- 
dred and fifty feet and then Bob fired, followed a 
moment later by Jack. They were both good shots 
with the revolver, but, under the condition, they 
knew that it would be more good luck than any- 
thing else if they succeeded in hitting a tire. By 
this time, the man they supposed to be Reed, al- 
though he now wore a mustache, had his gun loaded 
again and began firing, but, fortunately, with no 
effect. 

Jack had but one shot left when a ball from 
Reed’s revolver passed through his hat. 

“Gee, that’s getting a little too close for comfort,” 
he muttered. 

Taking careful aim, he slowly pressed the trigger 
and this time a loud report followed the bark of 
the revolver. 

“Got ’em,” he shouted as both turned off the 
power and pressed on the brakes. 

He had indeed got ’em more thoroughly than he 
supposed, for as the air left one of the rear tires, 
they saw the car suddenly swerve to the right, and 


190 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


before the driver could regain control, it had turned 
turtle into the ditch by the road side. 

“Gracious, I guess that ends them,” cried Bob, 
as they brought their wheels to a standstill not 
more than seventy feet from the overturned car. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 191 


CHAPTER XXIIL 

THE ROUND UP. 

The boys, thinking that the robbers might still 
be able to shoot, went back a little way until they 
saw the other car coming. 

“Well, you got them, sure enough,” declared Mr. 
Switzer, as the car drew up and came to a stop, 
“but I guess, by the looks, they're both dead. We'd 
better have our guns ready though, for they may 
be able to shoot,'' he added turning to his men. 

Their fears were groundless, however, for on ap- 
proaching the overturned car, they found that both 
men were unconscious, although they were alive. 
Reed, who had lost the false mustache he had been 
wearing had been thrown from the car and, having 
struck his head on a rock, was lying a few feet 
away, stunned, while King was pinned under the 
car, and groaning heavily. It was necessary to get 
the jack from the other car and raise the machine 
before they could drag him out. He slowly 
opened his eyes and groaned as they bore him to the 
car. 


192 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


It took some time to bring Reed around, but 
finally he began to show signs of life and soon sat 
up and looked around in a dazed manner. As his 
eyes rested for an instant on Jack, a shudder ran 
through him and he muttered something about not 
doing a very good job and sank back with a moan. 

They found the stolen money and securities in a 
box under the car, which was badly wrecked, and 
Mr. Golden took it in charge. 

“Now,"’ said Mr. Switzer, speaking to Mr. Gol- 
den, ^'if you are willing, George and I'll take these 
fellows back to Skowhegan in your car. There’s 
a house just around that turn where a man by the 
name of Berry lives, and he’ll probably hitch up 
and take the rest of you back to Oakland and you 
can catch the train there for home.” 

''All right,” replied Mr. Golden, "I g^ess that 
will be the best plan, and the boys can go along 
with you on their wheels.” 

So it was arranged, and the two injured robbers 
were made as comfortable as possible on the back 
seat of the car with Mr. Switzer, after he had 
slipped handcuffs on them. They said nothing ex- 
cept that King said he believed his left leg was 
broken, and it was paining him a good deal. 

"You’re both mighty lucky that your necks aren’t 
broken,” declared Switzer. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 193 


‘T don^t know as it’s so very lucky for us, either,” 
said Reed moodily. 

Tlie other officer took his seat in front with 
Sandy, and as they started off, Mr. Switzer shouted : 

“I’ll send some one out to tow their machine in.” 

The return trip was made without incident, the 
boys following the car. The prisoners were not in- 
clined to talk and refused to answer any questions. 
On reaching Skowhegan, they were taken to the 
jail and a doctor summoned, who found that King’s 
left leg was broken below the knee. Beyond a good 
sized lump on the back of his head and a severe 
shaking up, Reed was not injured. 

The authorities at Boston were notified, and it 
turned out that Reed was the long-wanted Jim the 
Penman, and, as Captain Long had suspected. King 
proved to be the man known as Oily Joe. They 
were both sentenced to twenty years’ imprisonment 
in the state prison of Massachusetts. 

As the boys, accompanied by Mr. Switzer, left the 
Jail, after hearing the doctor’s report regarding the 
condition of the robbers. Bob told him of his sus- 
picions regarding the farmer and his son, with 
whom they had the trouble the day before. 

'That must be looked into,” declared Mr. Swit- 
zer. “It certainly looks as though they were mixed 
up in it somehow. Tell you what I think we’d bet- 
ter do. It’s only ten-thirty now; suppose we take 


194 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


your father’s car and drive right back there and see 
what we can find out about it.” 

To this the boys readily agreed, and taking the 
other policeman with them they started, waiting 
only long enough for Bob to call up his mother and 
tell her the news. 

They reached the place in a little over an hour, 
and as they drove into the yard, the farmer was sit- 
ting on the back door step. As soon as he saw them, 
he rose and started to go into the house, but Mr. 
Switzer was too quick for him, and drawing his 
revolver, he pointed it at the man ordering him to 
stop. He wisely obeyed and Switzer told him to 
come to the car. 

“Is this the man?” he asked, turning to Bob. 

“Yes, he’s the man all right.” 

The chief then explained the situation to him and 
told him that he had better make a clean breast of 
it. The man was very much frightened and his 
voice trembled as he spoke, telling them that he 
would tell them all he knew. 

According to the man’s account, the house in the 
woods belonged to him. It had been built by a man 
from New York, three years ago, who intended to 
use it as a summer home, but his wife had died be- 
fore it was completely furnished, and he had bought 
it at a very low price. King and Reed had driven 
into his yard one afternoon, a week or so ago, in 


a:nd their new electric cell 195 


an automobile. The smaller of the two, Reed, had 
said that he was a wealthy business man from Bos- 
ton and that King was his servant. He, Reed, had 
suffered from a nervous breakdown, and his doctor 
had ordered him to go way somewhere, with his 
man, where he could be perfectly quiet and where 
no one would bother him, and they were looking for 
a place which they could rent. 

He had at once thought of the log house in the 
woods and had offered to show it to them. On see- 
ing it, Reed had declared it to be just the thing 
and had paid him a month’s rent in advance. He 
had thought that Reed was pretty healthy looking 
for a sick man, but considered it none of his busi- 
ness so long as he got his money. He had seen but 
little of them, but did know that they were away 
most of the time. Yes, he thought it strange, see- 
ing that he wanted to be perfectly quiet, but here 
again, it was none of his affair and he had not 
bothered his head about it. 

Bob asked him why he had been so hostile to- 
Avard Jack and him, and why his son had stolen 
their wheels, and why he had kept the cap, on aban- 
doning them. He said, in explanation, that Reed 
had called at the house one day, and during their 
conversation had told him that two boys had stolen 
an invention from him. Some kind of a storage 
battery, the secret of whicn was in some metal caps. 
He had said that he was very anxious to get back 


196 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


at least one of the caps as he had lost the formula 
for making them and had been unable to get the 
right proportion of metals. Asked why he didn’t 
have the boys arrested, he had replied that, unfor- 
tunately, he had no proof that they had stolen it, 
but that he would give one thousand dollars to get 
one of the caps. So, it happened that when he had 
seen the boys the day before, and had noticed the 
electric motors on their wheels, he had at once 
jumped to the conclusion that they were the boys 
Reed had told him about. So, seeing a good chance, 
as he thought, to make one thousand dollars hon- 
estly and without much trouble, he and his son, who 
had been at work in a field nearby, had followed 
them, and he guessed they knew the rest. 

The farmer’s story sounded plausible enough as 
he told it, and, as they had no evidence to the con- 
trary, Mr. Switzer said he guessed probably he was 
all right, but cautioned him to be more careful in 
the future or he might get into trouble, and telling 
him that he might be called as a witness, proposed 
that they start back. 

^T don’t know I’m sure,” he said to the boys, on 
the way back, “whether that fellow was telling the 
truth or not, but as long as we caught the robbers, 
I don’t see that we’d gain anything by arresting him 
and I guess we’d have a pretty hard time proving 
anything against him.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 107 


“Well, I got one good crack at him anyhow,’' 
chuckled Bob, “and I guess that son of his will 
think twice the next time, before he tackles a dude.” 

As the car drew up in front of the bank, they 
found that their father and the others had returned 
and getting their wheels, the boys lost no time in 
starting for the cottage, as they felt, according to 
Jack, hollow clear to the toes, Mrs. Golden said 
that he and Uncle Ben had eaten lunch and would 
be up later as he had some business to attend to 
at the bank. 

As they rode through the town, they had to stop 
a dozen times and receive congratulations from 
their friends, and it was nearly two o’clock when 
they reached the cottage. However, they found a 
good lunch awaiting them, as their father had 
’phoned that they were coming. While eating, they 
gave their mother, their aunt and the two girls an 
account of the events of the forenoon. 

“I am very glad,” declared Mrs. Golden, “that 
they are caught, as I would never have felt easy 
with them at large.” 

Mr. Golden and Uncle Ben came up in time for 
supper and the evening was spent in talking over 
the events of the last few days. 

The next night, when Mr. Golden came up from 
Skowhegan, he told the boys that he had a sur- 
prise for them. 

“What is it?” both asked eagerly. 


198 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“I received a telegram this afternoon from Cap- 
tain Long, saying that a check for ten thousand dol- 
lars had been sent to you, which is the reward of- 
fered for the capture of Jim the Penman and Oily 
Joe.” 

The boys were surprised, and of course delighted, 
for they had not thought of a reward, although they 
now remembered that Captain Long had told them 
that one had been offered. 

'‘But, father, don’t you think that Mr. Switzer 
and the other policemen ought to have part of it?” 
asked Bob. 

“No,” replied his father, “I hardly think so. They 
only did their duty in arresting them, while you 
were really the ones who caught them. What do 
you say, Ben?” 

Uncle Ben agreed with their father, in thinking 
that the reward belonged to them alone, but Jack 
proposed that they would feel better about it if they 
gave them a part, and Mr. Golden smilingly told 
them to do as they thought best. So, after talking 
it over, they decided to give them one thousand dol- 
lars each. Mr. Switzer and the other two men were 
much pleased when the boys gave them the money, 
and all decided that they had not expected any part 
of it as they considered that it belonged to the boys. 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 199 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

CONCLUSION. 

‘‘Say, Bob, what’ll we do with this money?” 

The check had been received on the day following 
Mr. Golden’s announcement, and as soon as the 
boys got into bed that night they began to talk 
about it. 

“Well, I’ll tell you my idea. You remember 
what I said before I was kidnapped, about that prize 
of fifty thousand dollars for flying across the At- 
lantic, don’t you? Well, tomorrow, let’s ask dad 
^bout it and if he says we may try it, we can use it to 
buy an airplane next summer. What do you say ?” 

“What do I say ? I say that, for a youth of your 
tender years, you have a mighty level head, and 
that last remark of yours is certainly a corker.” 

The next morning, at breakfast, they broached the 
subject to their father. 

“Well, I never!” declared Uncle Ben, “What in 
the name of common sense will you boys think of 
next? But of course, you are only fooling.” 


200 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Indeed we’re not,” declared Bob, emphatically. 

“But sober earnest now, Bob, do }^u think the 
scheme is practical?” asked his father. 

“I don’t see why not. Lots of aviators can stay 
in the air as long as their gasoline will hold out and 
the only reason they can’t fly farther is because they 
can’t carry enough fuel. Now we could carry 
enough of those cylinders to take an airship round 
the world.” 

“Well, well,” said their father, as he rose from 
the table, “there’s lots of time to think of that be- 
tween now and next summer. I won’t say yes, and 
I won’t say no at present, but we’ll see.” 

It was now the beginning of the last week in Au- 
gust and the boys spent the next few days delight- 
fully, sailing in the Sprite, fishing, swimming and 
playing tennis with the girls. To Jack’s secret de- 
light Mrs. Golden invited Evelyn Nason to spend a 
week with them, and as she was a lively girl, they 
were a very jolly party, and Mike declared that they 
made more noise than a barrel of monkeys. 

September came around too soon, and Uncle Ben 
announced that the next day he and Aunt Lucy 
must start for home. All were very sorry to have 
them go, for they all loved them dearly. 

“Don’t forget, boys, that you are to spend a week 
with us next Christmas,” was the last thing Aunt 
Lucy said, as they started off in their big car. 

Two days later. May and Evelyn went home and 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 201 


the Roost seemed quite deserted, and the Goldens 
began to think about leaving the lake for the sum- 
mer. 

It was Wednesday evening, and they were going 
to close the cottage the following Friday. They 
were all sitting around the open fire in the living 
room, for the night was chilly. 

‘‘Boys,’’ said Mr. Golden, throwing down the 
paper he had been reading, “how would you like to 
be tin soldiers?” 

“Tin soldiers? What in the world do you 
mean ?” asked Jack, as they all laughed. 

“Well, I’ll tell you. This afternoon a friend 
from Philadelphia was in the bank and he was tell- 
ing me about a military college near there, where 
his boy went last year, and he praised it so highly, 
that I thought it might be a good place for you. 
I believe in military training,” he continued, “as 
it teaches, besides other things, alertness and ef- 
ficiency. I have very much regretted that I did not 
have the advantage of such training, and I would 
like my boys to have it. What do you say?” 

The boys thought for a moment and looked at 
each other. Finally Bob said : 

“I think it would be bully; how about you, Jack?” 

“Same here. Do they teach cavalry there, dad ?” 

“Yes, they give courses in infantry, cavalry and 
artillery.” 

“That’ll be great,” declared both boys. 


202 


THE GOLDEN BOYS 


“Then you think you would like to go, do you?’^ 

“Yes, sir, I think it will be just the place for us,*’ 
answered Bob and Jack said the same. 

“All right then, we’ll consider it settled and I’ll 
write to the president the first thing in the morn- 
ing as the term opens the seventeenth.” 

The boys talked about it for a long time that 
night, after they were in bed, and the more they 
thought about it, the more anxious they were to go. 

Friday morning came, and after a final sail in the 
Sprite, she was pulled into the boathouse and made 
snug for the winter. Needless to say, the cells were 
taken to Skowhegan for safe keeping. By noon, 
the Roost was ready to be closed, and after lunch, 
they left for their town home, the boys on their 
motorcycles and the rest of the family in the car. 

“This has been a splendid summer,” declared 
Bob, as they were about to start, “in spite of all 
the trouble we’ve had, and I’ve had more excite- 
ment than I expected to have all my life.” 

“That’s so,” agreed Jack and then added soberly, 
“we certainly ought to be very thankful that every- 
thing turned out so well.” 

One day, about a week after they came down from 
the lake, Mr. Golden said, at the supper table : 

“Mr. Jenkins was in the bank today and said that 
Fred and Will were coming home tomorrow, and 
that he had decided to send them to the same col- 
lege where you’re going.” 


AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL 203 


Instantly the faces of the two boys fell. 

‘‘He said,” continued their father, “that he wished 
you two were more intimate with them.” 

“I don’t,” said Jack. “They’re too mean and 
selfish and then you can’t trust them. I’m mighty 
sorry they’re going there.” 

“Oh, well,” declared Bob, “I guess there’ll be 
room enough for them and us, too.” 

It was Thursday and they were to leave the fol- 
lowing Monday, and so we will leave them, busy 
and happy in their last minute preparations for their 
new life in college. 

And so we shall take leave of them for a short 
time. Their subsequent adventures will be found 
in a succeeding volume entitled “The Golden 
Boys at the Fortress/^ 


THE END. 






(Registered in the United States Patent Office) 

With the Navy 

By ENSIGN ROBERT L. DRAKE 

Handsome Cloth Binding, 


Frank Chadwick and Jack Templeton, young American 
lads, meet each other in an unusual way soon after the dec- 
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adventures with the sailors of the Allies. Ensign Robert L. 
Drake, the author, is an experienced naval officer, and he 
describes admirably the many exciting adventures of the two 
boys. 

THE BOY ALUES ON THE NORTH SEA PATROL; or. 
Striking the First Blow at the German Fleet. 

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER TWO FLAGS; or. Sweeping the 
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THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE FLYING SQUADRON; or. 
The Naval Raiders of the Great War. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE TERROR OF THE SEA; 

or. The Last Shot of Submarine D-16. 

THE BOY ALLIES UNDER THE SEA; or. The Vanishing 
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THE BOY ALLIES IN THE BALTIC; or. Through Fields of 
Ice to Aid the Czar. 

THE BOY ALLIES AT JUTLAND; or, The Greatest Naval 
Battle of History. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH UNCLE SAM’S CRUISERS; or, 
Convoying the American Army Across the Atlantic. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE SUBMARINE D-32; or. The 
Fall of the Russian Empire. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE VICTORIOUS FLEETS; or. 
The Fall of the German Navy. 


For sale by all boofesellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers 

A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St, New York 


The Boy Allies With 

(Registered in the United States Patent Office) 

the Army 

By CLAIR W. HAYES 

Handsome Cloth Binding, 


In this series we follow the fortunes of two American lad? 

unable to leave Europe after war is declared. They meet the 

soldiers of the Allies, and decide to cast their lot with them. 

Their experiences and escapes are many, and furnish plenty of 

the good, healthy action that every boy loves. 

THE BOY ALLIES AT LIEGE; or, Through Lines of Steel. 

THE BOY ALLIES ON THE FIRING LINE; or. Twelve Days 
Battle Along the Marne. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE COSSACKS; or, A Wild 
Dash Over the Carpathians. 

THE BOY ALLIES IN THE TRENCHES; or. Midst Shot 
and Shell Along the Aisne. 

THE BOY ALLIES IN GREAT PERIL; or. With the Italian 
Army in the Alps. 

THE BOY ALUES IN THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN; or. The 
Struggle to Save a Nation. 

THE BOY ALLIES ON THE SOMME; or, Courage and 
Bravery Rewarded. 

THE BOY ALLIES AT VERDUN; or. Saving France from 
the Enemy. 

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THE BOY ALLIES WITH HAIG IN FLANDERS; or. The 
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THE BOY ALLIES WITH THE GREAT ADVANCE; or. 
Driving the Enemy Through France and Belgium. 

THE BOY ALLIES WITH MARSHAL FOCH; or. The Clos- 
ing Days of the Great World War. 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers 

A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St., New York 


The Boy Scouts Series 

By HERBERT CARTER 


THK BOY SCOOTS’ FIRST CAMP FIRE; or. Scenting with 
the Silver Fox Patrol. 

THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE BLUE RIDGE; or. Marooned 
Among the Moonshiners. 

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Test for the Silver Fox Patrol. 

THE BOY SCOUTS THROUGH THE BIG TIMBER; or. The 
Search for the Lost Tenderfoot. 

THE BOY SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES; or. The Secret of 
the Hidden Silver Mine. 

THE BOY SCOUTS ON STURGEON ISLAND; or, Marooned 
Among the Game Fish Poachers. 

THE BOY SCOUTS DOWN IN DIXIE; or. The Strange 
Secret of Alligator Swamp. 

THE BOY SCOUTS AT THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA. A 
story of Burgoyne’s defeat in 1777. 

THE BOY SCOUTS ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA; or, The 
Silver Fox Patrol Caught in a Flood. 

THE BOY SCOUTS ON WAR TRAILS IN BELGIUM; or, 
Caught Between the Hostile Armies. 

THE BOY SCOUTS AFOOT IN FRANCE; or. With the Red 
Cross Corps at the Marne. 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publishers 

A. L. BURT COMPANY, 114-120 East 23rd St, New York 


Oiif ¥®fflig Aeroplane Scon^ Series 

(Regristered in the United States Patent Ofice) 

By HORACE PORTER 


Handsome Cloth Binding* 

A series of stories of two American boy aviators in tm- 
greac European war zone. The fascinating life in mid-air h 
th/illingly aescribed. The boys have many exciting adventures, 
and the narratives of their numerous escapes make up a series 
of wonderfully interesting stories. 


OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN FRANCE AND 
BELGIUM; or, Saving the Fortunes of the Trouvillea. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN GERMANY. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN RUSSIA; or. Lost 
on the Frozen Steppes. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN TURKEY; or, 
Bringing the Light to Yusef. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ENGLAND; or, 
Twin Stars in the London Sky Patrol. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN ITALY; or. Flying 
with the War Eagles of the Alps. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT VERDUN; or. 
Driving Armored Meteors Over Flaming Battle 
Fronts. 

CUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE BALKANS; 
or. Wearing the Red Badge of Courage. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN THE WAR ZONE; 
or. Serving Uncle Sam In the Cause of the Allies. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS FIGHTING TO THE 
FINISH; or. Striking Hard Over the Sea for the 
Stars and Stripes. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS AT THE MARNE; 
or. Harrying the Huns From Allied Battleplanes. 

OUR YOUNG AEROPLANE SCOUTS IN AT THE VIC 
TORY; or. Speedy High Flyers Smashing the Hin- 
denburg Line. 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publisher' 

A- L. BURT COMPANY, 11^-120 23rd St., New YcrU 


jun 3 i334 
















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